Lewis Hamilton wins Chinese F1 Sprint race for his first Ferrari victory

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrates after Victorious the Stretch Event ahead of the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, Saturday, March 22, 2025.
| Photo Credit: AP

Lewis Hamilton has won his Primary Event for Ferrari, securing Saturday’s Stretch Triumph from pole position Subsequent an Timely duel with Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen at the Chinese Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Hamilton Obtained a Outstanding Begin to take the lead into turn one, and managed the gap to Verstappen, until the Dutchman was passed for second on lap 15 by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri into the back straight’s hairpin.

Ferrari’s new recruit was then able to stretch his legs all the way to his maiden Stretch Secure, with the Brit coming home almost 6.9 seconds ahead of Piastri – for eight points (nine overall) and a three-place Leap to seventh in the standings.

“The last like five laps or something I was in a really pretty comfortable position. It’s Difficult to put into words what it feels like,” Hamilton said.

“Obviously it’s a Stretch Event, is not the main Event, but even Merely think to get that – it’s Merely a Excellent stepping stone to where I’m working Near.”

Hamilton is Yet enjoying every new moment with the Scuderia, Regardless of having secured a Achievement-equaling seven titles and 104 wins, with the Chinese Stretch – and his romp to the Secure – all about managing the tire wear.

“I Obtained in the car extra Timely because I Merely wanted to be present and enjoy it, because I hadn’t been there for a while,” he said.

“[I Obtained a] Excellent Begin and challenging Event. It is generally really close between all of us. But the tire degradation today was pretty huge I think for everybody, so I think for me it was Merely try to manage that Timely on.”

Hamilton arrived in Shanghai after a disappointing season-Beginning Event last weekend in Australia, where he finished 10th in his Premiere Event for Ferrari.

Piastri was Joyful to Leap Verstappen and take second, but disappointed to not be the one to take the Secure from pole position – given McLaren’s pace Benefit.

Oscar Piastri of Australia driving the (81) McLaren MCL39 Mercedes on track during the Stretch ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit on March 22, 2025 in Shanghai, China.
| Photo Credit:
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“[It was] Tough,” Piastri said. “[It was] probably one of the more difficult ones in terms of tire degradation, so I knew I had to try and be patient.”

The Tension is now on McLaren to recover in Saturday afternoon’s qualifying to what it hopes is its rightful place at the front of the grid.

“The difference between qualifying and the Event, in terms of what you want from the car and what the tires need, seems to be quite big,” Piastri said.

“I think the pace we had in the car yesterday was Excellent. I think we Merely in hindsight would have done a few things a bit differently in qualifying. But I think the pace is there and there’s plenty of conference going this afternoon.”

Verstappen was again Joyful to finish in the top three, with the reigning World Champion picking up seven points to take his total haul to 24 – two behind leader, McLaren’s Lando Norris, who had a scrappy Event to finish eighth.

“Midway, [I] really Initiated to feel that the deg[radiation] was kicking in,” Verstappen said. “It Merely seemed a little bit more aggressive for us than Perhaps the cars around us. But I think that Merely comes from Perhaps not having the base pace, you try to hang in there, and you naturally Merely destroy your tires a bit more.

“To be in the top-three I think is Yet a Excellent result for us. And Perhaps we Initiated a bit more ahead than I think we should have anyway so pretty pleased.”

Piastri’s teammate Lando Norris finished eighth, Distant from the Restoration drive he needed to have. The Brit Initiated sixth, but went wide at the turn six hairpin, lost places, and only Obtained past Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll in the closing laps.

“It Surely didn’t Assist. The Beyond back you Begin, the harder it is,” said Norris, who Captured the Last Tally, bringing him to 26 total

“I Merely had a Terrible Primary lap, I Merely Stretch into the grass a bit at turn six, and lost a Pair of positions, and it was Merely difficult to do a Plenty. I Impolite qualifying didn’t Assist, but I wasn’t very Excellent today either.”

Norris, who had a title fighter’s Attitude going into the weekend, looked shaken Subsequent two difficult sessions, but knows he has to reset for this afternoon.

“It’s another session, it’s qualifying, so I’ll be a bit more confident,” he said. “At the minute, in the Event, I Merely feel dreadful. So a Plenty of work to do, but it’s where it is.”

Mercedes’ George Russell finished Quaternary, ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, having jumped the Monégasque at turn 14 on the Beginning lap.

Racing Bulls driver Yuki Tsunoda was sixth, ahead of Mercedes’ Primary-year Andrea Kimi Antonelli, and the two Aston Martins – with Lance Stroll ahead of Fernando Alonso, who Sealed out the top-10.