Sprint Race Report - Hamilton's first win for Ferrari

By Mark Karp

Lewis Hamilton won his first sprint race for Ferrari, leading flag-to-flag, to win over the McLaren-Mercedes of Oscar Piastri by 6.889 seconds, and 9.804s to Max Verstappen in the Red Bull-Honda in third place.

The win is Hamilton’s first win in a Ferrari chassis, in his second race for the team. Hamilton’s win is the first for a driver over 40-years-old since Nigel Mansell in the 1994 Australian GP.

George Russell (11.592s) in the Mercedes GP finished fourth, followed by Charles Leclerc (12.190s) in the second Ferrari was fifth, Yuki Tsunoda (22.289s) in the RB-Honda was sixth, Kimi Antonelli (23.038s) in the second Mercedes was seventh, Lando Norris (23.471s) in the second McLaren was eighth, taking the final point.

Lance Stroll in the Aston Martin-Mercedes was ninth, Fernando Alonso tenth, followed y Albon, Gasly, Hadjar, Lawson, Bearman, Ocon, Sainz, Bortoleto, Hulkenberg, and Doohan in 20th.

Before the start of the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint Race, Hamilton is on pole in his Ferrari, with Verstappen alongside on the front row, Piastri and Leclerc on row 2, Russell and Norris on row 3, Antonelli and Tsunoda on row 4 and Albon and Stroll rounding out the top ten.

At the appointed time the field came around the circuit and lined up on the grid, the lights went out and race race began with Hamilton off in the lead, followed by Verstappen. Piastri, Leclerc, Tsunoda. Norris drops back to ninth. Russel passes Leclerc for fourth,

On lap 2 Hamilton has a 1 second lead, he sets fast lap art 1m35.399s, Gasly is up three places to 14th.

On lap 5 Hamilton leads Verstappen by 1.1 seconds, followed by Piastri, Russell, Leclerc, Tsunoda, Antonelli, Stroll, Norris and Alonso in tenth.

Lawson and Doohan touch at the hairpin.

At lap 8 Verstappen has closed to 0.8s behind Hamilton.

At lap 10 Hamilton leads Vertappen, Piastri, Russell, Leclerc, Tsunoda, Antonelli, Stroll, Norris and Alonso in tenth.

Gasly, Sainz and Hadjar are battling for 13th.

On lap 12 Hamilton leads Verstappen by 1.3s.

Sainz pits changes tyres and falls to the back of the field.

Norris continues to complain that his car has no pace.

On lap 14 Hamilton leads Verstappen by 1.8s, Piastri is closing on Verstappen.

On lap 15 Piastri passes Verstappen on the back straight to take second. Hamilton leads Piastri by 3.7s.

The two Ferrari’s are gaining pace at the end of the stint.

On lap 18 Hamilton leads Piastri by 6.0s.

Norris passes Stroll for 8th.

At the finish Hamilton wins over Piastri and Verstappen.