Antonelli’s previous highest grid position this season was third in the last race in Saudi Arabia, although his qualifying result position has improved in every session so far this season.
His impressive 0.309secs margin over Russell came despite the Briton joining Verstappen in being the only driver to use two sets of tyres over two runs in the final session. Everyone else waited in the pits while they went out and did just one lap.
The idea behind the strategy, which is tight in terms of planning because of the fast turnaround needed in the pits after the first lap, is to allow the driver to record a ‘banker’ lap and then go all out on the second.
But it worked for neither. Russell did not improve on his second lap, and while Verstappen did, he was 0.255secs slower than Antonelli and 0.21secs off Piastri.
Hamilton, who won the first sprint of the season in China from pole position, was seventh fastest, one place behind team-mate Charles Leclerc. It was an improvement for Hamilton after a dire past three races, but he was still 0.222secs off his team-mate.
Williams’ Alex Albon, Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso completed the top 10, only the second time his team has made it that high up this season, after team-mate Lance Stroll achieved it in the sprint in China.
Albon’s team-mate Carlos Sainz should also have been in the top 10 but he made a mistake on his final lap in the second session and will line up 15th.
Verstappen’s team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was knocked out in the first session and will start the sprint 18th.
