A record breaking Hamilton warns McLaren and Red Bull: 'More time to find'

"I think, obviously, the last race was a disaster for us. And clearly, we knew that there was more performance in the car, but we just weren't able to extract it. So to come here to a track that I love, Shanghai, beautiful place, and the weather's been amazing, and the car really came alive from lap one," said Hamilton to after the session.

"So we made some great changes. The team did a fantastic job through the break to get the car ready and I'm a bit in shock. I can't believe it's actually we got a pole in a sprint, it's obviously not the main race, so we've got work to do for tomorrow but this puts us in good stead for the race," added Hamilton.

Where in the lap did the Briton take pole for the sprint? "My first sector was really, really strong. I think that's where I made most of my improvement on that lap. But just little increments through the whole place. I think there's still time to find for sure, which I'll try and make sure that I apply to the next qualifying session we go out in. But it's just amazing to see the number one as you stop and be in the red car. It's pretty incredible."

Hamilton's 'not done' yet and has hopes for tomorrow

"I'm still not really done. I didn't get to do a race run in Bahrain. Obviously, we did the race last weekend in the wet. But tomorrow will be kind of my first real long-ish run, or race run and Sunday will be my first proper race run in the dry with this car. So I'll be learning.

"I'm hoping that we can hold on to it I think the McLaren's is very very very fast as it as is Max so but we're in a good position we'll stay positive and keep our heads heads high and keep pushing forwards awesome lap positive and keep our heads heads high and keep pushing forwards," concluded the seven-time world champion.