A remarkable late surge in qualifying at the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix saw Lewis Hamilton claim his first sprint pole position for Ferrari in a thrilling conclusion to the session. This achievement came as a surprise to both the crowd and Hamilton himself following a lackluster performance at the season opener in Australia, where he managed only a 10th place finish. In Shanghai, his initial fourth-place finish in practice offered a glimmer of hope, which he capitalized upon to top the first segment of qualifying.

The session took a dramatic turn when Lando Norris, driving a dominant McLaren, faltered with an aborted lap, providing Hamilton with the opportunity to shine. Seizing the moment with less than a minute left, Hamilton secured the pole position with a time that was mere 18 thousandths of a second faster than Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. Completing the top three were McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, with Mercedes’ George Russell rounding out the top five.

Reacting to his unexpected triumph, Hamilton expressed his delight and disbelief. He noted the disappointment of his Melbourne performance, where his team’s potential was not fully realized. “I didn’t expect that result, but so, so happy and so proud,” he said. Reflecting on the difference, Hamilton credited the team for getting the car ready and the track, which he loves, for bringing out the best in the vehicle. His remarkable turn of form has undoubtedly injected excitement and confidence for the upcoming race.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2025/3/21/chinese-gp-hamilton-takes-stunning-first-f1-sprint-pole-for-ferrari?traffic_source=rss