Lewis Hamilton celebrated a triumphant return to form at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix, where he clinched victory in the first sprint race of the season, marking his inaugural win with Ferrari.
On March 22, 2025, the Shanghai International Circuit witnessed Hamilton's commanding performance as he started from pole and smoothly converted that position into victory, finishing with a margin of 6.889 seconds ahead of McLaren's Oscar Piastri, who finished second, and Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing, who rounded out the top three.
Hamilton's victory is especially significant given the context of his difficult debut with Ferrari. "I woke up feeling great today," he expressed after the race. "I really do feel a lot of people underestimated the really steep climb it is to get into a new team, to become acclimatised within a team, understanding and communication, all sorts of things. From Lap 1 here this weekend, really feeling on it. We’ve done a great job – the engineers have done a great job, mechanics have done a great job to really finetune the car and it felt great today. I got a good start and then there’s so much grip on this new tarmac. It’s really hard to look after these tyres but I think everyone was struggling the same."
The race was intense with Hamilton initially holding a comfortable lead. He faced some tire graining issues, which allowed Piastri to close the gap, but Hamilton managed his race well to maintain an edge. Piastri, who showed remarkable pace, overtook Verstappen on lap 15, securing second place just ahead of the reigning champion. Meanwhile, Hamilton stretched his lead, demonstrating both speed and strategic acumen.
Finishing fourth was George Russell from Mercedes, while Charles Leclerc of Ferrari had to settle for fifth, both of whom battled closely throughout the race. Yuki Tsunoda also made headlines by finishing sixth for Racing Bulls, scoring valuable points after a slow start to the season, which had left him searching for form.
Unfortunately for Lando Norris, the sprint champion from the previous race in Melbourne, he struggled initially, dropping from P6 to P8 after a wide moment early in the event, which hindered his chances of scoring more points. Despite this, he managed to salvage a point at the end, finishing in the eighth position.
As the race unfolded, other notable moments included Kimi Antonelli finishing in seventh place, demonstrating his potential early in the season. Meanwhile, the race brought drama for rookies, as Gabriel Bortoleto and Jack Doohan made contact, both ending in the bottom three. Such incidents illustrate the unpredictable nature of Formula 1 racing, especially with the inclusion of rookies navigating through the competitive field.
With this win, Hamilton not only boosted his confidence but also provided a much-needed uplift for Ferrari, who have faced scrutiny after a disappointing start earlier in the season. The results from the sprint race have significant implications for the championship standings, with Hamilton now scoring a total of nine points so far this season, placing him just behind the leaders in the overall championship race.
The current standings show Lando Norris leading with 26 points, closely followed by Max Verstappen at 24 points and George Russell with 20 points. With Hamilton’s recent display of strength, he positions himself as a serious contender moving into the upcoming Grand Prix.
As teams shift their focus towards the main race later today, anticipation builds around how Hamilton's momentum will translate into further success. With qualifying set to begin at 3:00 PM local time, all eyes will be on how drivers will adapt from the sprint’s challenges to the longer race duration ahead.
This victory not only marks a turning point for Hamilton but also establishes Ferrari's potential to challenge for the championship moving forward. The dynamics observed during this sprint highlight the fierce competition and unpredictable outcomes that Formula 1 consistently delivers, promising an exciting season ahead.
