In a thrilling display of precision and skill, Lewis Hamilton secured the Sprint Pole at the 2025 F1 Chinese GP, held at the world-renowned Shanghai International Circuit. The seven-time world champion outpaced rivals Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen with an impressive lap that left spectators and competitors in awe.
Hamilton, at the helm of the Scuderia Ferrari team, clocked in at 1:30.929, a time that not only outshone his competitors but also added a new chapter to his illustrious career. Oscar Piastri, the McLaren driver who was initially leading the pack, was surpassed by Hamilton by a razor-thin margin of 0.080 seconds.
The climax of the qualifying event was the final run by Max Verstappen, who, despite a formidable performance, fell short of matching Hamilton’s time by a mere 0.018 seconds. This set the stage for an epic showdown between these two championship contenders in the upcoming Sprint Race, with Hamilton and Verstappen set to start side by side.
Lando Norris of McLaren found himself in the sixth position on the starting grid, a placement that is likely to stoke his competitive spirit and push him to claw his way to the top during the Sprint Race. With Piastri and Verstappen notably ahead, Norris will be looking to minimize the impact on his championship ambitions.
On the flip side, Liam Lawson, the young Red Bull driver, faced a challenging start to his career at the prestigious team. Being eliminated in the first round of qualifying, Lawson will start last on the grid, a position that puts immense pressure on him to evade the fate suffered by his predecessors Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, and Sergio Perez at Christian Horner’s Red Bull team.
As we look forward to Saturday’s Sprint Race in China, all eyes are set on Lewis Hamilton. The 40-year-old champion is on the hunt for his first Sprint Race victory, setting up the stage for an exciting face-off against Max Verstappen.
The full lineup for the 2025 F1 Chinese GP Sprint Qualifying is as follows:
1. Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
2. Max Verstappen, Red Bull
3. Oscar Piastri, McLaren
4. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
5. George Russell, Mercedes
6. Lando Norris, McLaren
7. Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
8. Yuki Tsunoda, Racing Bulls
9. Alex Albon, Williams
10. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin
The remaining drivers, including Fernando Alonso, Oliver Bearman, Carlos Sainz, Gabriel Bortoleto, Isack Hadjar, Jack Doohan, Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon, Nico Hulkenberg, and Liam Lawson, were eliminated in the first two rounds of qualifying.
Stay tuned for more motorsport action as we bring you live updates from the 2025 F1 Chinese GP Sprint Race.