F1 leader Russell puts Mercedes on pole for China sprint race

Formula One championship leader George Russell put Mercedes on pole position for the first sprint race of the season in China on Friday in a provisional front row lockout with teammate Kimi Antonelli.

Russell led every phase of the session at the Shanghai circuit to take his first career sprint pole in a time of one minute, 31.520 seconds. Antonelli was 0.289 slower.

McLaren’s Lando Norris was third fastest but the Briton could move up to the front row with Antonelli under...