Lewis Hamilton delivered a masterclass performance at the Chinese Grand Prix sprint, securing his first victory for Ferrari in just his second race with the Italian team. The seven-time world champion, starting from pole position, dominated the 100km race from start to finish, crossing the line 6.889 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen settling for third.
A Statement Win for Hamilton
After a challenging Ferrari debut in Melbourne, where he finished 10th, Hamilton proved his doubters wrong in Shanghai. Managing his tyres brilliantly, the Briton controlled the pace and secured Ferrari’s first-ever sprint race victory since the format’s introduction in 2021.
“I woke up feeling great today,” Hamilton said, reflecting on his stellar performance. “Melbourne was difficult, and I think people underestimated how tough it is to adapt to a new team. There were a lot of critics, but this weekend, I felt much more comfortable in the car. The engineers and mechanics have done an incredible job.”
Watching from the Ferrari garage was Hamilton’s father, Anthony, who has been a pillar of support throughout his career.
Piastri and Verstappen Fall Short
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri put up a strong fight, overtaking Verstappen in the closing stages to secure second place. The reigning world champion, Verstappen, admitted his Red Bull struggled with pace in the latter part of the race.
“We didn’t have enough pace for Lewis, but we have some ideas for the main race,” Piastri said.
Verstappen, who starts on pole for Sunday’s Grand Prix, acknowledged the challenge ahead. “We just lacked a bit of pace today, so we had to push harder, which hurt the tyres.”
Norris Leads Standings Despite Struggles
Lando Norris, who won the season opener in Australia, had a tough outing, finishing eighth but maintaining his championship lead with 26 points, two ahead of Verstappen.
Meanwhile, Hamilton’s Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc, finished fifth, behind Mercedes’ George Russell. Racing Bulls’ Yuki Tsunoda continued to impress, taking sixth, while 18-year-old Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli finished seventh, keeping his scoring streak intact.
Looking Ahead to the Grand Prix
With Verstappen starting from pole on Sunday, the main race promises to be an exciting battle. Ferrari has shown strong pace, and Hamilton’s confidence is growing. Could this be the start of a serious title challenge? One thing is certain—Hamilton has sent a clear message: he’s still at the top of his game.
