Lewis Hamilton has claimed pole position for the sprint race ahead of the 2025 F1 Chinese Grand Prix, marking a significant achievement in his early career with Ferrari. The seven-time world champion edged out reigning champion Max Verstappen by a mere 0.018 seconds during the qualifying session at the Shanghai International Circuit on March 21, 2025. Hamilton's time of 1:30.849 seconds not only secured him the top spot but also set a new lap record at the circuit where he has previously enjoyed immense success.
The starting grid for the sprint race, which is scheduled for March 22, 2025, at 3 a.m. UK time, features Verstappen in second and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in third. Hamilton's teammate Charles Leclerc will start from fourth, while George Russell rounds out the top five in fifth place. Notably, championship leader Lando Norris will begin the sprint from sixth position after struggling to find his rhythm during the session.
Hamilton, in only his second race with Ferrari after finishing 10th in his debut last week, expressed his joy at securing pole. “Firstly I want to say a big thank you to this amazing crowd we have today,” said Hamilton. “I didn’t expect that result but I’m so happy and so proud. The last race was a disaster for us and we knew there was more performance in the car but wasn’t able to extract it.” Hamilton's resilience paid off, and as he navigated the Shanghai track, which he described as a place he loves, he demonstrated that Ferrari had found the performance they had been searching for.
Norris, who came into the weekend leading the world championship for the first time in his career after winning the Australian Grand Prix, admitted to making mistakes that hampered his qualifying session. He expressed concern over the difficulties he faced with the car's handling but remains optimistic about securing strong results in the upcoming race. “I made a mistake and I locked up in the last corner. We were not quick enough and I struggled with the car,” Norris noted.
The Chinese Grand Prix marks the first sprint weekend of the 2025 season, highlighting the unique racing format. The sprint is not counted towards championship points in the same manner as a traditional race but serves as a way to determine the starting order for the main event, which is set for March 23, 2025.
Other notable performances in the qualifying session included Kimi Antonelli in seventh and Yuki Tsunoda in eighth, with Alex Albon and Lance Stroll completing the top ten. Veteran Fernando Alonso missed out on qualifying for SQ3 by just 0.002 seconds, leaving him to start from 11th, while Oliver Bearman managed to place himself in 12th for Haas, six spots ahead of teammate Esteban Ocon.
Unfortunately for Liam Lawson of Red Bull Racing, the weekend did not look promising as he ended the session in last place, 20th, further compounding his struggles after a poor showing in Australia. Lawson’s performance has raised eyebrows and left Red Bull with questions heading into the sprint race.
As anticipation builds for the sprint race, the strategic implications of this event may set the tone for the Grand Prix itself. Teams will be eager to understand how their setups handle both the sprint and full race formats. Fans worldwide can tune in to watch the excitement unfold live on various platforms.
All eyes will be on Hamilton as he looks to build upon this momentum in the main race and show that his legendary status still holds strong with Ferrari. His successful debut in qualifying offers hope for a team that has struggled to find its footing in recent seasons. With exciting battles anticipated up and down the grid, the 2025 F1 Chinese Grand Prix promises to deliver thrilling moments as teams vie for valuable points in the championship race.
