Lewis Hamilton claimed his first victory for Ferrari by winning the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint.
Having taken a surprise pole on Friday, Hamilton held off Max Verstappen at the start and in the opening stages, before expertly managing his tyres to cruise to victory.
The victory was a first for both Hamilton and Ferrari in a Sprint, and marked a stunning turnaround from his disappointing debut for the Italian team at last weekend’s season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri passed Verstappen for second in the closing stages, but had taken too much out of his tyres to chase down Hamilton, who won by almost seven seconds.
Oscar Piastri moves into second after a battle with Max Verstappen in the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint.
Melbourne winner Lando Norris retained his drivers’ championship lead after scoring just a single point for finishing eighth, having dropped three places from his starting position of sixth following an opening-lap error.
George Russell was fourth for Mercedes after holding off Hamilton’s Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc, who he overtook on the first lap.
Yuki Tsunoda drove superbly for Racing Bulls to take sixth, holding off Hamilton’s Mercedes replacement Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
More to follow…
Sky Sports F1’s live Chinese GP schedule
Saturday March 22
- 5.45am: F1 Academy Race 1*
- 6.35am: Chinese GP Qualifying build-up*
- 7am: CHINESE GP QUALIFYING*
- 9am: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook*
Sunday March 23
- 2.40am: F1 Academy Race 2
- 5.30am: Chinese GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
- 7am: THE CHINESE GRAND PRIX*
- 9am: Chinese GP reaction: Chequered flag*
- 10am: Ted’s Notebook*
*Also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 is in Shanghai this week for the first Sprint weekend of the season at the Chinese GP, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime
