F1 China GP 2025: Hamilton wins first race for Ferrari in Chinese Grand Prix Sprint
F1 China GP 2025: Hamilton wins first race for Ferrari in Chinese Grand Prix Sprint
Lewis Hamilton won his first race for Ferrari at the Chinese Grand Prix sprint in Shanghai on Saturday.
The seven-time world champion, who secured his first pole position for the Prancing Horse on Friday, claimed victory at the 19-lap event ahead of the main race on Sunday.
Hamilton arrived in Shanghai after a disappointing season-opening race last weekend in Australia, where he finished 10th in his debut race for Ferrari.
The 40-year-old, on just his second race weekend for the Scuderia, took the chequered flag ahead of Oscar Piastri’s McLaren and Max Verstappen’s Red Bull to complete the podium.
“I think people underestimate the steep climb it is to get into a new team, understand a new team,” said a delighted Hamilton.
“So, it is great to come here and feel more comfortable in the car as in Melbourne I really didn’t feel comfortable in the car. I got a good start. I don’t feel the pressure, I know the team wants to win and it means everything to them.
“Rome wasn’t built in a day, so one day at a time,” Hamilton said after the sprint.
His teammate, Charles Leclerc, couldn’t hold on to fourth place and crossed the line in fifth, behind Mercedes’ George Russell. Racing Bulls’ Yuki Tsunoda and young rookie Kimi Antonelli crossed the line sixth and seventh respectively.
Lando Norris, who is leading the drivers’ championship after the Australian Grand Prix, finished in eighth, the last points-scoring position in a sprint race.
He started sixth, but went wide at the turn six hairpin, lost places, and only got past Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll in the closing laps.
