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Lewis Hamilton Triumphs in Sprint Race at Chinese Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton showcased remarkable skill and dominance in the sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix, clinching victory from the pole position and marking his inaugural Formula 1 win with Ferrari.
The 19-lap race highlighted significant tire management challenges, with Hamilton taking full advantage of clear air to convert his starting position into a solid win. This victory adds to his impressive tally of six grand prix wins in Shanghai.
Following Hamilton, Oscar Piastri finished in second place, trailing almost seven seconds behind. Max Verstappen secured third place, rounding out the top three finishers.
Meanwhile, Lando Norris, who leads the championship standings, faced difficulties throughout the race. After qualifying in sixth place, he struggled with a poor first lap that saw him lose several positions, forcing him to fight hard to regain points during the race.
The initial laps saw a well-organized leading group, aside from Norris, who mistakenly ran wide at Turn 6 and subsequently lost three spots. George Russell managed to overtake Charles Leclerc by the end of the first lap, moving into fourth place as Norris continued to struggle to advance, unable to pass Lance Stroll.
Liam Lawson, starting at the back in the second Red Bull, engaged in a wheel-to-wheel battle with fellow rookie Jack Doohan to advance past the Alpine, but was cleared of any wrongdoing after a stewards’ review.
As the race progressed, Hamilton began to express concerns about the graining on his front-left tire, a sentiment echoed by Norris. Tire management became crucial, with Verstappen applying pressure on Hamilton for a few laps before falling back.
Piastri capitalized on Verstappen’s drop in performance to challenge Hamilton, ultimately moving into second place by the end of lap 15. Despite the battle behind him, Hamilton had established a substantial lead, nearly five seconds ahead as he approached the final laps of the race.
The seasoned driver, 40 years old, was met with cheers from the enthusiastic Chinese crowd as he crossed the finish line. His Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc, was unable to reclaim his position and finished behind Russell, who secured fourth for Mercedes.
Yuki Tsunoda delivered a commendable performance, finishing sixth for Racing Bulls and successfully defending his position against Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Norris managed to find a way past Stroll to claim eighth place and secure the last point available in the sprint race.
F1 Chinese GP – Sprint Race Results
In this article
Mark Mann-Bryans
Formula 1
Source
www.autosport.com