Lewis Hamilton wins China Sprint for first Ferrari win

In a stunning display of skill and adaptability, Lewis Hamilton claimed his first victory as a Ferrari driver by winning the sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion, in just his second race weekend with the iconic Italian team, secured a lights-to-flag triumph in Shanghai, showcasing his quick acclimatization to his new team and car.

A Historic Win for Hamilton and Ferrari

Hamilton’s victory came in the 19-lap sprint race, held on Saturday morning before the main qualifying session for the grand prix. Starting from pole position, he led the field from start to finish, marking not only his first Ferrari victory but also his maiden win in Formula 1’s sprint race format since its introduction in 2021.

Following his remarkable performance, Hamilton expressed his satisfaction with the car and the team’s efforts. “From Lap 1 here this weekend, I’ve been feeling on it,” Hamilton said. “The engineers and mechanics have done a great job fine-tuning the car. It felt great today, I got a good start, and there was so much grip on the new tarmac. Managing the tires was challenging, but I think everyone struggled with that.”

Overcoming Initial Challenges

Reflecting on his transition to Ferrari, Hamilton acknowledged the difficulties of adapting to a new team and car setup. “The first race was difficult, and I think people underestimated how steep the climb is to get comfortable in a new team. The amount of critics I’ve heard along the way, it’s clear some people just don’t understand the process. But this weekend, I felt comfortable in the car, which wasn’t the case in Melbourne.”

Holding Off Verstappen and Piastri

Hamilton faced early pressure from his long-time rival Max Verstappen, who closely followed him for the first 10 laps. However, Verstappen began to struggle with front tire issues, allowing McLaren’s Oscar Piastri to seize an opportunity. Piastri overtook Verstappen for second place on Lap 15 but was unable to close the gap to Hamilton, finishing 6.8 seconds behind the Ferrari driver at the checkered flag.

Renewed Championship Hopes

Hamilton’s victory injects fresh hope for a competitive title fight this season. Ferrari had a challenging start to the year in Australia, while McLaren appeared dominant. However, this sprint race triumph signals Ferrari’s potential to challenge Red Bull and McLaren in the coming rounds. Hamilton secured eight points for his victory, adding to the single point he earned in Australia. With renewed confidence, he aims to contend for a full grand prix win as well.

Other Notable Performances

Elsewhere in the sprint race, Lando Norris endured a difficult outing, finishing in eighth place and scoring just one point after dropping three positions at the start due to a mistake at Turn 6. “At the minute in the race, I just feel dreadful,” Norris admitted, blaming a poor qualifying session and a tough first lap for his struggles.

George Russell secured fourth place for Mercedes after passing Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc on the opening lap at Turn 14. Leclerc finished in fifth, followed by an impressive drive from Racing Bulls’ Yuki Tsunoda, who held off Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli for sixth place.

Jack Doohan, who finished last, was handed a 10-second time penalty and two penalty points for causing a collision with Sauber’s Gabriele Bortoleto.

Looking Ahead

Hamilton’s performance in the sprint race has set the stage for an exciting main event at the Chinese Grand Prix. With momentum on his side, the Ferrari driver will be aiming to continue his success and challenge for his first grand prix victory in red. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely as the season unfolds, with renewed anticipation for a fiercely contested championship battle.

F1 China GP Sprint Race Results

March 22, 2025