Lewis Hamilton has triumphed in the inaugural sprint race of 2025, marking his first victory for Ferrari at the Shanghai circuit in China. After securing pole position, Hamilton maintained control for the entirety of the race, finishing ahead of McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Red Bull's Max Verstappen.
The highly anticipated sprint race kicked off at 04:00 Dutch time on March 22, 2025. Hamilton, starting from pole, fended off an attack from Verstappen, who began in second place, while Piastri started third. The tightly packed grid led to intense early-stage battles, with Lando Norris, who qualified in sixth, struggling right from the start.
Norris's troubles began when he went wide on the fourth turn, dropping to ninth place as Yuki Tsunoda, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, and Lance Stroll capitalized on his misstep. In the initial lap, George Russell managed to overtake Charles Leclerc, seizing fourth position, while Fernando Alonso advanced to tenth place, injecting excitement early in the race.
Despite the early shake-ups, the front runners maintained a fierce competition. Hamilton, Piastri, and Verstappen raced tightly within two seconds of each other in the opening laps, with Verstappen making several attempts to close in on Hamilton. However, as the laps wore on, tire wear became apparent for the Dutch driver. Hamilton skillfully expanded his lead, illustrating the power and strategy of his Ferrari team.
As the race progressed into the fourteenth lap, Piastri began his assault on Verstappen, who was struggling with tire performance. Piastri put pressure on Verstappen, ultimately overtaking him on lap fifteen after an intense struggle, securing second place. Hamilton, meanwhile, extended his lead, crossing the finish line after 19 laps, marking a significant milestone in his career.
Piastri finished the race six seconds behind Hamilton, claiming his position with commendable efforts that showcased his racing prowess. Verstappen took the third spot, narrowly holding off challenges from Russell and Leclerc, who completed the top five. Russell, notably, had an impressive performance, ensuring he maintained fourth place amid formidable competition.
Norris rounded off a frustrating day by finishing in eighth position, providing little point to McLaren's ambitions this weekend. By contrast, the race was a significant boost for Hamilton and Ferrari, as he celebrated this victory as his first in the iconic red colors after his transition from Mercedes.
As the sprint race concluded, teams prepared for the Grand Prix qualification scheduled for 08:00 Dutch time on March 23, where strategies and further developments promised excitement for what's shaping up to be an intriguing Formula 1 season.
