Lewis Hamilton delivered a masterclass performance to claim victory in the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix Sprint, marking his first win in Ferrari colors and ending the Scuderiaâs drought in the shortened race format. The seven-time World Champion led from start to finish in a commanding display at the Shanghai International Circuit, finishing nearly seven seconds ahead of McLarenâs Oscar Piastri, with Red Bullâs Max Verstappen rounding out the podium in third.
The 19-lap Sprint, the first of six scheduled for the 2025 Formula 1 season, kicked off under sunny conditions with Hamilton starting from pole position, a spot he secured in a thrilling Sprint Qualifying session the previous day. As the lights went out, Hamilton fended off an early challenge from Verstappen into Turn 1, maintaining the lead while chaos unfolded behind. Championship leader Lando Norris, starting sixth, suffered a disastrous opening lap, locking up and dropping to ninth after misjudging his brakingâa mistake that set the tone for his struggles throughout the race.
Hamiltonâs race was a showcase of precision and tire management. For the first 10 laps, Verstappen stayed within DRS range, pressuring the Ferrari driver and engaging in a tactical battle reminiscent of their 2021 title fight. However, Hamiltonâs superior tire preservation allowed him to pull away decisively in the second half, stretching his lead as Verstappenâs tires began to degrade. âBoth of my front tires are dead,â Verstappen lamented over the radio, a sentiment that opened the door for Piastri to pounce.
On lap 15, Piastri executed a bold move on Verstappen into the hairpin at Turn 14, securing second place and underlining McLarenâs pace despite teammate Norrisâs woes. Piastri crossed the line 6.8 seconds behind Hamilton, unable to close the gap to the runaway leader but comfortably ahead of Verstappen, who settled for third after losing grip in the closing stages.
Behind the podium battle, Mercedesâ George Russell and Ferrariâs Charles Leclerc waged a fierce fight for fourth, with Russell holding off Leclercâs late charge to secure the position. Racing Bullsâ Yuki Tsunoda impressed with a sixth-place finish, fending off Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli, who added two more points to his early-season tally in seventh. Norris salvaged a single point in eighth, overtaking a struggling Lance Stroll late in the race, but his performance was a far cry from his Australian Grand Prix win the previous week.
Hamiltonâs victory was a statement of intent for Ferrari, who had faced criticism after a lackluster opener in Melbourne. Stepping out of his SF-25, Hamilton addressed the Shanghai crowd: âI didnât expect that result, but Iâm so happy and proud. The car came alive from Lap 1, and the team did a fantastic job.â His triumph marked Ferrariâs first-ever Sprint win and added to his storied legacy at a track where he has now won six Grands Prix and a Sprint.
Elsewhere, the Sprint saw its share of drama. Alpineâs Jack Doohan received a 10-second penalty and two penalty points for causing a minor collision with Sauberâs Gabriel Bortoleto at Turn 14, while Williamsâ Carlos Sainz pitted for fresh tires after a lackluster run, dropping to the back. Red Bullâs Liam Lawson, starting last after a disastrous qualifying, made some progress but couldnât crack the points.