Hamilton wins in China to kick off Ferrari era

The union between Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari bore its first fruits this Saturday at the Shanghai circuit. The 40-year-old British driver clinched the sprint race and ended a victory drought that had lasted since late 2023, when he was still racing for Mercedes.

With a track temperature of 34°C and an ambient temperature of 23°C, Hamilton took advantage of his privileged position to control the 19 scheduled laps, crossing the finish line almost seven seconds ahead of Oscar Piastri, who had to settle for second place in his McLaren.

The Degradation That Changed the Podium

Midway through the race, Verstappen began experiencing tire issues, a situation that Piastri capitalized on to snatch second place on lap 15. The Dutch triple world champion completed the podium but had no real chance of threatening Hamilton, who managed his lead with authority.

"The tires were tricky to manage. I had some graining moments, but keeping clean air from the front was crucial," commented Hamilton after receiving the checkered flag, dedicating his victory to the Chinese fans who packed the grandstands of the international circuit.

Two Ferraris in the Top Five

Charles Leclerc completed a fruitful day for the Italian team by finishing fifth, behind George Russell. The Monegasque driver couldn't maintain his initial fourth position after losing a place early in the race, but he scored valuable points for Ferrari in their return to the Chinese GP, which hadn't been held since 2019 due to the pandemic.

"Our pace was better than expected," admitted Frédéric Vasseur, Ferrari's team principal. "Lewis showed great composure in his driving, and Charles contributed with good points. It's an encouraging start for the rest of the weekend."

Tsunoda Shines on a Tough Day for Norris

One of the standout performances came from Yuki Tsunoda, who drove his Racing Bulls to sixth place, fending off the young Italian Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who is in his first season in the top category.

On the other hand, Lando Norris, the current championship leader, had a day to forget. After a mistake at turn 6 on the first lap, the British driver dropped several positions and could only salvage eighth place after overtaking Lance Stroll in the final stages.

"We lost a lot in the first lap, and it was hard to recover," lamented Norris. "The pace was there, but when you're in traffic with these tires, everything gets complicated."

Hamilton's New Life in Red

Hamilton's move to Ferrari has been one of the most talked-about transfers in recent Formula 1 history. After 11 seasons and six world titles with Mercedes, the British driver decided to embark on a new adventure with the legendary Italian team starting in 2025.

This victory in the sprint in Shanghai marks the first official win for the seven-time world champion wearing the red overalls of Maranello, a result that hints at what could be a fruitful partnership between the most successful driver of the current generation and the most decorated team in history. The last time a British driver won with Ferrari was Nigel Mansell in 1990, making Hamilton's achievement a historic milestone after 35 years of drought for drivers of that nationality in the Italian team.

The Sprint Format Consolidates Its Presence

Introduced in 2021, Formula 1 sprint races consist of approximately 100-kilometer races (19 laps in the case of Shanghai) with no mandatory pit stops. They award points to the top eight finishers (8 for the winner down to 1 for eighth) and serve as a prelude to the main Grand Prix on Sunday.

Qualifying for the main race of the Chinese Grand Prix will take place later this Saturday, while the feature race will be held on Sunday, continuing with the fifth round of the 2025 World Championship.

Complete Sprint Results for the Chinese GP