Antonelli becomes youngest ever pole setter ahead of Chinese Grand Prix

Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli became the youngest driver to set pole position in Formula 1 history by leading team-mate George Russell at the Chinese Grand Prix. Russell ended up 0.222 seconds adrift of the Italian after a race against time to solve a gearbox problem with his car that threatened to leave him 10th on the grid. Mercedes managed to repair Russell’s car just in time to get him out for a final lap and he managed to sneak ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.

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Russell fends off Ferrari duo to win Sprint race in China

Mercedes’ George Russell won the sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix after a frantic scrap in the early laps with Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari. Russell and Hamilton swapped places five times in the first five laps before the winner of the first race of the season eased away to a comfortable victory. Hamilton lost out to team-mate Charles Leclerc three laps after Russell finally passed him for the lead as the Ferraris took second and third.

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Russell eases to pole ahead of Shanghai Sprint

George Russell led team-mate Kimi Antonelli as Mercedes dominated qualifying for the sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix. Russell was 0.289 seconds clear of the Italian and a massive 0.621secs ahead of the first non-Mercedes, world champion Lando Norris in the McLaren. Lewis Hamilton was fourth for Ferrari, just 0.02secs slower than Norris, while McLaren’s Oscar Piastri took fifth ahead of the second Ferrari of Charles Leclerc.

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Ryan out of Scotland clash as Aki returns to bench

Ireland lock James Ryan has been ruled out as head coach Andy Farrell makes four changes for Saturday’s Six Nations Triple Crown decider against Scotland in Dublin. Joe McCarthy returns to the line-up to replace his Leinster teammate while Connacht’s Bundee Aki returns to the bench having served a four match ban for verbally abusing match officials in January.

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Havertz rescues draw for Arsenal on return to Leverkusen

Kai Havertz scored a late penalty as Arsenal came from behind to draw with Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at the BayArena. The German forward who spent 10 years at Leverkusen before moving to Chelsea for £71m in 2020, slotted the ball past Janis Blaswich in the 89th minute after Noni Madueke had been brought down by Malik Tillman. Arsenal had gone behind for the first time in the competition this season when Robert Andrich headed in a well-worked Alex Grimaldo corner.

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