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Lewis Hamilton Secures Pole Position at F1 Chinese Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton made a significant impression on his first outing with Ferrari by clinching pole position for the Formula 1 sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix. He will share the front row with rival Max Verstappen, setting the stage for an exciting race weekend.
McLaren seemed poised for success earlier in the qualifying rounds, especially with Oscar Piastri achieving the third fastest time, while teammate Lando Norris struggled to secure sixth place due to mistakes during his attempts.
Hamilton’s performance was standout, clocking a lap record of 1m30.849s. With six previous grand prix victories and pole positions in Shanghai, he displayed a strong command of the track, contrasting sharply with his Ferrari debut in Australia, where he faced challenges. Now, he aims to turn this pole advantage into a sprint race victory.
Max Verstappen, who took second place in Melbourne, performed admirably to earn his front-row start, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc secured fourth position.
Both Mercedes drivers, George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli, expressed disappointment after finishing fifth and seventh, respectively. Completing the top ten were Yuki Tsunoda, Alex Albon, and Lance Stroll.
The session showcased a fierce internal competition within McLaren as Piastri initially dipped below the Ferraris on the timing sheets, only to be overtaken by Hamilton and Verstappen’s excellent laps. Norris’ chances at a better placement faded when he made an error on his first SQ1 run.
Fernando Alonso, representing Aston Martin, will start the sprint from 11th position, while Haas’ Oliver Bearman made a commendable 12th, finishing ahead of Carlos Sainz. Gabriel Bortoleto and Isack Hadjar also joined the competitive field, rounding out the standings.
Having faced difficulties, the second Red Bull driven by Liam Lawson ended up at the back of the grid after a time penalty left him over a second and a half behind Hamilton’s leading pace. Both Alpine drivers had an even tougher time, with Jack Doohan narrowly outperforming Pierre Gasly to take 16th, while Esteban Ocon and Nico Hulkenberg lagged behind their rookie teammates, finishing in 18th and 19th places, respectively.
F1 Chinese GP – Sprint Qualifying Results
Fans can expect an enthralling sprint race as Hamilton seeks to solidify his return to form with Ferrari against formidable competitors in Verstappen and the McLaren team.
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www.autosport.com