Max Verstappen was the winner of the first Formula 1 Sprint race of the season, held this Saturday at the Chinese GP in Shanghai. Despite starting from fourth, the Red Bull driver recovered to win with a considerable lead.
The pole position was held by Lando Norris (McLaren/Mercedes), who did not get off to a good start. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) took advantage and took the lead while his compatriot was left without space in an attempt to respond and lost several positions.
Once in the lead, Hamilton began to distance himself from his pursuer, Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin/Mercedes). The Spaniard eventually could not resist Verstappen when he attacked with DRS. The Dutchman then went after Hamilton, completing the pass on the ninth lap.
Until the end, the seven-time world champion had no arguments to keep up with Verstappen, who pulled away in the remaining ten laps to win by 13.043s. Hamilton was a comfortable second. Alonso, on the other hand, could not hold on to the top positions, gradually losing places until he retired due to a puncture following a touch with Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) while they were fighting in the top five.
Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) eventually recovered to third, ahead of the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Sainz, with Norris finishing sixth just above his teammate, Oscar Piastri. The points-paying positions were closed by George Russell (Mercedes) in eighth, while the home favorite, Guanyu Zhou (Kick Sauber/Ferrari), finished ninth.
Results:
#F1SPRINT CLASSIFICATION
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 20, 2024
Verstappen seals the eighth Sprint victory of his career 💪#F1 #ChineseGP pic.twitter.com/Hwzxk3FEeN
