Confirmed starting grid | Verstappen from pole, one pitlane starter

Red Bull Racing secured the full front row for the Chinese Grand Prix with Max Verstappen on pole position and Sergio Perez on P2. Fernando Alonso completed the top three. Aston Martin lodged a protest against the result of qualifying, causing Carlos Sainz to briefly fear for his seventh starting place. However, the protest was dismissed. There's a small change to the starting grid.