F1 Results Today: Lewis Hamilton earns brilliant first Ferrari win with Shanghai mas….read more
Lewis Hamilton secured a sensational first win for Ferrari with a commanding performance in the Chinese Grand Prix sprint race, marking his first victory in red and his first win in over two years. The seven-time world champion executed a flawless lights-to-flag drive at the Shanghai International Circuit, resisting pressure early on from Max Verstappen before pulling away to take a memorable triumph.
The short-format sprint race provided plenty of drama, but none of it flustered Hamilton, who led confidently from pole position. Verstappen, starting from second, pushed hard in the opening laps, staying within striking distance. However, as the race progressed, the Red Bull driver began to struggle with tyre degradation—a problem that proved to be his undoing.
Midway through the 19-lap sprint, Verstappen’s pace dropped off, and he was soon under threat from McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. The young Australian, who had been lurking just behind the leading pair, took full advantage of Verstappen’s woes and made a decisive move into the penultimate corner to snatch second place with just a few laps remaining. Though Piastri attempted to chase down Hamilton, the gap was too large, and he ultimately crossed the line nearly seven seconds adrift.
Hamilton, meanwhile, remained in total control at the front. His smooth driving and effective tyre management ensured he stayed clear of any threats, making it a landmark day for the British legend and Ferrari. This victory not only marked his first with the Scuderia but also his first race win since 2021, a result that will undoubtedly boost morale within the Italian team.
Behind the top three, George Russell delivered a solid performance for Mercedes, finishing fourth and just under 12 seconds behind the leader. He was followed closely by Charles Leclerc in the second Ferrari, who finished fifth after a relatively quiet race. The midfield battle, however, saw more action, with Yuki Tsunoda putting in one of his best performances of the season to secure sixth place for Racing Bulls.
Kimi Antonelli, the Mercedes rookie, continued his impressive debut season with a seventh-place finish, holding off a charging Lando Norris in the closing laps. Norris, starting from a disappointing sixth on the grid, went wide early in the race, losing valuable positions and momentum. The McLaren driver spent much of the race stuck behind Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin, complaining over the radio about his tyre wear. He eventually managed to pass Stroll to claim the final points-paying position in eighth but was clearly frustrated with the outcome, given his championship ambitions.
Stroll and his teammate Fernando Alonso finished ninth and tenth, respectively, with Alonso well off the pace by the end of the race. The two Aston Martins had limited pace and struggled to make any significant impact.
Williams’ Alex Albon took 11th, narrowly ahead of Alpine’s Pierre Gasly in 12th. Racing Bulls’ rookie Isack Hadjar came home 13th, while Liam Lawson, standing in at Red Bull, was 14th. Haas endured another difficult outing, with Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon finishing 15th and 16th. Williams’ Carlos Sainz, now racing in unfamiliar surroundings after his switch from Ferrari, could only manage 17th.
Kick Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg were 18th and 19th, respectively, with both drivers finishing over 50 seconds behind Hamilton. At the back, Alpine’s Jack Doohan ended a tough race in 20th after receiving a 10-second time penalty, compounding a disappointing outing.
The result marks a shift in momentum, especially for Ferrari and Hamilton, who had faced questions earlier in the season about their ability to challenge Red Bull and McLaren consistently. With Hamilton’s win and Leclerc also showing strong pace, Ferrari appears to be emerging as a real contender.
Meanwhile, Verstappen’s tyre issues will be a concern for Red Bull, who have typically excelled in sprint formats. Piastri’s strong finish will also be a positive for McLaren, even though Norris’ struggles indicate that the team still needs to find more consistency.
As F1 returns to Shanghai for the first time in several years, Hamilton’s victory will be remembered as a masterclass in control and strategy, and perhaps the start of a new chapter in his legendary career with Ferrari.
