Piastri: I was genuinely struggling but came alive in Q3

In fact, both of Piastri's Q3 laps would’ve been good enough for pole, but he still found more time with his final attempt while most others didn’t. That speaks volumes. He’s improving race by race, relentlessly raising the bar and giving Lando Norris a lot to think about.

Norris, for his part, had a car that was clearly good enough for pole. Most would’ve put money on him to do the job. But he didn’t. He bailed on his final attempt and admitted to making mistakes. Piastri did the opposite. Maybe he was fired up by the disappointment in Australia, where he made a costly error. Whatever the reason, this was the perfect response—laying down a serious marker less than a week later.

On the cool-down lap on Saturday, as P1 reality sank in Piastri said over the radio: "That was the hairpin of my life!" Referencing the speed he took in and out of the closed elbow Turn 6 of the Shanghai International Circuit, during Q3 on Saturday.

Piastri said afterwards: "I found a lot of pace in Q3. Q1 and Q2 I was genuinely struggling and the car came alive, I came alive in Q3. The laps were a little bit scruffy but I'm just pumped to be on pole."

As for the race ahead and a third victory? Piastri said: "I want to make sure I keep the clean air. I was pretty happy after the Sprint. We did the most we could. I would have been happier with one spot higher, but with how the race turned out I couldn't have asked for much more. I feel like we learned a lot and I'm looking forward to putting that into use tomorrow."

Zak Brown McLaren CEO was chuffed for the Australian: "It's awesome to have Oscar get his first pole. He's been close, a lot of front rows, and that was a mega lap. Only he and George I think improved, I think the wind direction changed. It was an awesome last sector.

"This has been a tricky weekend for us so far. We know we have the pace, we know we have the pace in the drivers and the car. The Sprint race was great for Oscar, less so for Lando. I'm sure Lando's a little bit grumpy he's not on that front row with him, but he can see him."

"I know it's a short year so far but we've been saying this is going to be a really close season. If you miss a sector or lock a wheel you're going to be P6 or P7," Brown added.

After turning P3 on the grid to P2 at the end of the Sprint race earlier in today, Piastri's will now be firmly set on winning the Grand Prix on Sunday. The front-row fight with George Russell should be clean, and if anyone’s likely to crack under pressure, it’s George. But to be fair, Russell looks like he’s grown up this season too.

Both will be eyeing Turn 1, and they’d do well to take a leaf out of the Sprint start when Hamilton and Verstappen, sharing the front row, both got off the line cleanly and blitzed away. Piastri then got past Verstappen after biding his time and managing the McLaren well while the Red Bull tyres went off.

On race pace, smart money is on the McLarens. Starting P5, Norris knows this is Piastri’s race to win and will be looking for damage limitation. While the Aussie will want to add to his victory tally with a great opportunity to do so. As much as it is his to win, this is F1 where it's also only his to lose. And McLaren of course!