Lewis Hamilton claimed a stunning pole for Saturday’s Sprint at the Chinese Grand Prix in just his second race weekend with Ferrari, showcasing his remarkable adaptability and resilience. Bouncing back in sensational style from a difficult debut with the team in Melbourne last weekend, where he struggled to finish 10th, Hamilton was determined to make an impact and proved his mettle throughout Sprint Qualifying at a venue historically favorable to him, as he has won the grand prix there a record six times.
Despite McLaren being heavily favored to dominate the grid, Hamilton had other plans. Not only did the seven-time champion outpace new team-mate Charles Leclerc for the first time, but he also demonstrated superior speed compared to all his main rivals. This performance led him to secure a first pole position in motorsport’s iconic red colors at just the second attempt, which is a significant achievement in his ongoing journey with Ferrari.
This pole position marks the 40-year-old Hamilton’s first in any of Formula 1’s qualifying formats since July 2023, underlining the challenges he faced in recent races. Meanwhile, McLaren’s aspirations were hampered, as they could only manage third place with Oscar Piastri, while early title leader Lando Norris suffered a setback and finished sixth after an unfortunate last-lap mistake. Norris’s error not only left him disappointed but may also impact his championship hopes going forward, as the pressure of the season builds.
Max Verstappen will join Hamilton on the Sprint front row, continuing their long-standing rivalry, as he showcased another strong performance in his Red Bull. Leclerc’s fourth-place finish, albeit 0.2 seconds slower than the Ferrari of Hamilton, indicates that there’s still work to be done for the Maranello team to fully harness their car’s potential.
Hamilton’s reaction to securing pole was one of genuine surprise and elation. When informed by his race engineer Riccardo Adami, he exclaimed, “Really? Hahaha! Mega job. Woo!” This joyful moment was a significant departure from his post-race sentiments in Melbourne, where he faced difficulties and challenges throughout the race weekend. After emerging from the car, he expressed his astonishment, stating, “I didn’t expect that result but so, so happy and so proud. Clearly the last race was a disaster for us but we knew there was more pace in the car. I’m a bit shocked. I can’t believe we got a pole in the Sprint!”
On the contrary, Liam Lawson’s initiation into Red Bull’s senior team continued to be marred by complications. He ended up lapping slowest in SQ1, which exacerbated his already challenging debut season. Being just above the cut line before the final runs, his costly mistake at Turn Nine forced him to drift wide, sealing a fate of starting at the back for the Sprint.
In terms of other noteworthy performances, George Russell managed to qualify fifth in the leading Mercedes, setting up an intriguing third-row battle with Lando Norris for the Sprint set to take place at 3 am on Saturday morning. Kimi Antonelli showcased significant progress, securing seventh in the second Silver Arrow, markedly improving from his performance in Melbourne, where he fell out of contention in Q1. Though he staged a commendable recovery during the race to finish fourth, he still trailed Russell by half a second in SQ3.
Another feel-good story emerged with Yuki Tsunoda, who, despite being overlooked for the Red Bull seat that went to Lawson just three months prior, qualified in the top 10 again, finishing in eighth. Alex Albon continued to impress, securing ninth for Williams, while Lance Stroll narrowly edged out his teammate Fernando Alonso, qualifying one Aston Martin in SQ3 and securing the 10th spot on the grid.
In the midst of these high-stakes battles, British rookie Oliver Bearman demonstrated his growing potential by qualifying 12th, a notable improvement from his disappointing Melbourne outing. This achievement places him significantly ahead of his experienced Haas teammate Esteban Ocon, who qualified six places lower, underscoring the ongoing development and competition within the team.
As the teams and drivers head into the Sprint, Hamilton’s pole position signals a renewed hope for Ferrari, while also raising the stakes for McLaren and their championship ambitions. This weekend promises to deliver excitement and drama on the track as the drivers vie for critical points and set the stage for the main event.
Chinese GP Sprint Qualifying Timesheet
| Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1) Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:32.729 |
| 2) Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +0.018 |
| 3) Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +0.080 |
| 4) Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | +0.208 |
| 5) George Russell | Mercedes | +0.320 |
| 6) Lando Norris | McLaren | +0.544 |
| 7) Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | +0.889 |
| 8) Yuki Tsunoda | Racing Bulls | +0.924 |
| 9) Alex Albon | Williams | +1.003 |
| 10) Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | +1.133 |
| Knocked out in SQ2 | ||
| 11) Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:31.815 |
| 12) Oliver Bearman | Haas | 1:31.978 |
| 13) Carlos Sainz | Williams | 1:32.325 |
| 14) Gabriel Bortoleto | Sauber | 1:32.564 |
| 15) Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | No SQ2 time |
| Knocked out in SQ1 | ||
| 16) Jack Doohan | Alpine | 1:32.575 |
| 17) Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:32.640 |
| 18) Esteban Ocon | Haas | 1:32.651 |
| 19) Nico Hulkenberg | Sauber | 1:32.675 |
| 20) Liam Lawson | Red Bull | 1:32.729 |
World of sports 
Leave a comment