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VIDEO – Hamilton and Verstappen Outshine McLaren in Surprise Chinese Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying Victory

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
March 21, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 3 mins read
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VIDEO – Hamilton and Verstappen Outshine McLaren in Surprise Chinese Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying Victory

Formula One F1 - Chinese Grand Prix - Practice - Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, China - March 21, 2025 Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton is seen ahead of the first practice session REUTERS/Edgar Su

In an electrifying turn of events at the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen delivered a stunning blow to the previously unchallenged McLaren team, dominating the sprint qualifying in 2025. Contrary to expectations, the McLaren team, which had shown superior performance during practice and the first two segments of sprint qualifying, fell short in the final showdown.

Hamilton, the seasoned seven-time champion, exhibited an impressive performance in the intra-Ferrari fight on Friday at Shanghai. Despite the odds, he secured an unexpected pole position, edging out Verstappen by a mere 0.018s in the fight for pole. This upset was a testament to their tenacity and competitive spirit, which saw them outperform the McLarens on soft tyres.

Lando Norris, the championship leader, had a chance to keep McLaren’s dominance alive. However, two uncharacteristic, sloppy laps left an opening for Hamilton and Verstappen. Norris’ teammate, Oscar Piastri, initially led the final segment, SQ3. However, his second attempt fell short of an improvement, allowing Hamilton, who had been consistently outperforming his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, to seize the lead.

Verstappen, representing Red Bull, made a valiant last-ditch effort for the pole but fell slightly short, despite an exceptional final sector. This left Piastri to settle for third place, with Leclerc and Mercedes’ George Russell filling out the top five.

Norris, following a lock-up into the Turn 14 hairpin, was forced to abandon his final attempt, resulting in a disappointing sixth place finish. However, he was well ahead of seventh-placed rookie Kimi Antonelli, who struggled to match his Mercedes teammate Russell’s pace.

The top ten was rounded off by Racing Bulls’ Yuki Tsunoda, Williams’ Alex Albon, and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll. However, the race wasn’t without its share of heartbreak. Liam Lawson, despite showing promise in his first SQ1 attempt, fell to the back of the grid following a lackluster second attempt.

Veteran Fernando Alonso, representing Aston Martin, was a surprising dropout in SQ2, having shown impressive speed in the first segment. He missed the top 10 by a hair, 0.021s to be precise, and will be joined on the sixth row in the sprint by Ollie Bearman.

On the other end of the spectrum, Carlos Sainz of Williams team found himself trailing his teammate Albon by a significant eight tenths in SQ2. The only driver slower than him in the second segment was Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto.

The first segment also saw its share of disappointments. Alpine drivers, who had to adjust to the new rear wing flexibility technical directive, were both eliminated. However, rookie Jack Doohan managed to outperform his teammate Pierre Gasly.

In a sport where fractions of a second can make all the difference, this Grand Prix was a testament to the unpredictable and thrilling nature of Formula 1, with its surprising upsets and tense rivalries setting the stage for an exciting season.

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