In the heart-pounding Chinese GP Sprint, Lewis Hamilton, in his debut as a Ferrari driver, masterfully held off an aggressive Max Verstappen to claim his first victory. This win, however, didn’t come easy, as the race was marked by intense competition and notable performances, particularly from the sport’s newbies who brought their A-game, adding a dash of excitement to the Sprint.
The year 2025 marks the first time F1 witnessed Hamilton and Verstappen, the celebrated stars of 2021, starting 1-2 on the grid. On a glorious sunny morning in Shanghai, Hamilton successfully resisted Verstappen’s relentless pursuit at Turn 1. Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri, who was aiming to overtake Verstappen, found himself in a defensive position against Charles Leclerc, as his teammate Lando Norris slipped from sixth to ninth after a tyre mishap.
The race witnessed George Russell snatching fourth place from Leclerc, while Yuki Tsunoda climbed to the sixth spot, followed by Kimi Antonelli, Lance Stroll, and Norris. Among the rookies, Oliver Bearman shone, securing the 12th position as his peers, Gabriel Bortoleto and Liam Lawson, lined up 15th to 19th, with Esteban Ocon hot on their heels.
Hamilton demonstrated his prowess by clocking the fastest lap, momentarily escaping Verstappen’s DRS range. However, the Dutchman swiftly closed the gap to 0.9s, setting the stage for a thrilling back-and-forth race. The duo maintained a slight lead over Piastri, who made his mark by muscling Lawson out of P18, a move that the stewards deemed fair.
As the race progressed, Norris reported front tyre issues, and Hamilton too began to feel the strain, his tyres visibly worn out. By the 10th lap of the 19-lap Sprint, Hamilton was leading the pack, followed closely by Verstappen and Piastri, with a mere 2.5s separating the trio. Verstappen’s minor slip-up at the hairpin provided Hamilton with a breather and Piastri with an opportunity.
The action wasn’t limited to the front-runners, as the tail-end saw an intense chase. Carlos Sainz, running 14th, was pursued fiercely by Hadjar, Lawson, Bortoleto, Ocon, and Doohan, all running in close quarters. Hamilton managed to extend his lead to two seconds with six laps to go, but Verstappen found himself under intense pressure with Piastri looming in his rearview mirror.
In a daring move on the 15th lap, Piastri overtook Verstappen at the hairpin, claiming second place. Hamilton, now 2.6s ahead, increased his pace, creating a substantial gap between himself and Piastri, who had managed to shake off Verstappen. Meanwhile, Leclerc was threatening Russell’s position, and Antonelli was closing in on Tsunoda for the sixth spot.
Hamilton raced past the finish line a full seven seconds ahead of Piastri, with Verstappen securing the third spot, followed by Russell and Leclerc. The points table saw the addition of Tsunoda, Antonelli, and Norris, with the latter making a late pass on Stroll to score a point.
The final lap of the race saw a clash between Doohan and Bortoleto, resulting in a spin for the latter. In another development, an enquiry was initiated against Pierre Gasly for not adhering to the maximum delta time on his way to the grid.
In conclusion, the Chinese GP Sprint was a testament to the high-octane drama, skillful maneuvering, and strategic gameplay inherent in Formula 1 racing.