Hamilton stuns with record-breaking pole for Chinese GP sprint
Lewis Hamilton delivered a sensational performance in Shanghai on Friday, smashing the lap record to claim pole position for the Chinese Grand Prix sprint.
Competing in just his second race weekend with Ferrari, Hamilton clocked 1:30.849 around the 5.451km Shanghai International Circuit, eclipsing the previous benchmark of 1:32.238 set by Michael Schumacher in 2004.
A stunned Hamilton admitted he had not expected such a result. “I’m just a bit gobsmacked, taken back by it. I didn’t know when we would get to this position,” he said. “I started out straight away with a better feeling in the car. I can’t believe we are at the front, ahead of a McLaren which has been so fast throughout winter testing, Australia and even today.”
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen was second, just 0.018 seconds behind, while McLaren’s Oscar Piastri secured third. Hamilton’s Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc finished fourth, marking a strong turnaround for the Scuderia after a disappointing start to the season in Melbourne.
Lando Norris, fastest in practice, made a costly mistake on his final lap and ended up sixth. “I made a mistake. I locked up in the last corner,” he admitted. “Just too many mistakes but just too difficult of a car to drive.”
George Russell took fifth for Mercedes, ahead of Norris. Kimi Antonelli, Yuki Tsunoda, Alex Albon, and Lance Stroll completed the top 10.
The 19-lap sprint race will take place on Saturday morning, followed by qualifying for Sunday’s 56-lap Chinese Grand Prix.
(Source: AFP)
