Lewis Hamilton secured his first Formula One victory for Ferrari in the Chinese Grand Prix sprint race, leading from start to finish in only his second race with the Italian team. The seven-time world champion, who started from pole position, expertly managed his tyres to cross the finish line 6.889 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finishing third.
This marked the first sprint race win for both Hamilton and Ferrari since the format was introduced in 2021. His triumph also highlighted his rapid adaptation to Ferrari following his move from Mercedes in January. McLaren’s Lando Norris, who won the season opener in Australia, retained his lead in the overall standings despite finishing eighth, with 26 points to Verstappen’s 24.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc took fifth place, finishing behind Mercedes’ George Russell. The result demonstrated Hamilton’s growing comfort with his new team after a challenging debut in Melbourne.
Reflecting on his victory, Hamilton expressed his satisfaction with the progress made since his first race of the season. “I woke up feeling great today,” he said. “The first race was difficult. A lot of people underestimated the steep climb it is to get into a new team, to become acclimatised, and to develop strong communication with the engineers and mechanics. There are so many things to adapt to.”
He acknowledged the doubts and criticism from various sources but was pleased with his improved performance in Shanghai. “The amount of critics and people I’ve heard yapping along the way, clearly not understanding maybe because they’ve never had the experience or were just unaware made this win feel even better. In Melbourne, I didn’t feel comfortable in the car, but from the first lap here, I felt much more at home. The engineers and mechanics have done a fantastic job.”
Hamilton’s victory signals an exciting new chapter for Ferrari, a team eager to challenge Red Bull’s dominance in recent seasons. The result also intensifies the battle at the top of the standings, with multiple teams vying for supremacy in the 2025 season.
