Hamilton Clinches Historic First Ferrari Victory in Shanghai Sprint
Lewis Hamilton claimed his first Ferrari victory in a commanding performance at the Shanghai sprint race, leading from pole to finish. The British driver demonstrated perfect control throughout the race, maintaining a comfortable lead to cross the line 6.8 seconds ahead of the field.
Oscar Piastri secured second place for McLaren after an impressive overtake on Max Verstappen, who struggled with tire degradation in the closing stages. The Australian showed superior tire management skills, particularly beneficial given the high track temperatures and increased minimum tire pressures mandated by Pirelli.
Race driver in red suit
Verstappen held on for third place, admitting he was "trying to survive" in the final laps as his tires deteriorated. George Russell finished fourth, successfully defending against Charles Leclerc, who complained of handling issues through Turn 13.
Key Race Highlights:
- Hamilton led from start to finish
- Piastri overtook Verstappen on lap 15 of 19
- High tire degradation significantly impacted race strategy
- Track temperatures reached nearly 100 degrees F
- Yuki Tsunoda impressed with sixth place
- Lando Norris recovered to eighth after an early off-track excursion
The finishing order saw Hamilton, Piastri, and Verstappen on the podium, followed by Russell, Leclerc, Tsunoda, Antonelli, and Norris in the points-scoring positions.
F1 race results standings chart
This victory marks Hamilton's first win in Ferrari colors and the team's first sprint race success, setting an optimistic tone for the main Grand Prix.