Lewis Hamilton Secures First-Ever Ferrari Victory in Chinese Grand Prix Sprint Race
Lewis Hamilton made history on Saturday, claiming his first-ever win for Ferrari with a dominant performance in the sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix.
A Commanding Victory
Starting from pole position in the 19-lap sprint, Hamilton held off his longtime rival Max Verstappen through the opening corners before pulling away to secure a convincing victory. The seven-time world champion, now in his debut season with Ferrari, showcased his skill and composure to clinch an important win for his new team.
A Turnaround from Melbourne
This victory marked a strong comeback for Hamilton, who had a disappointing Ferrari debut at the Australian Grand Prix, finishing in 10th place. His resurgence in Shanghai demonstrated his growing comfort within the team and the car.
Later on Saturday, Hamilton qualified in fifth place for Sunday’s main race, where McLaren’s Oscar Piastri took his first career pole position. To secure a record-extending seventh grand prix win in Shanghai, Hamilton will need to mount a strong challenge from the third row, battling Verstappen, Lando Norris, George Russell, and Piastri ahead of him on the grid.
Silencing the Critics
Following his sprint race triumph, Hamilton addressed the skepticism surrounding his transition to Ferrari, pushing back against critics who doubted his adaptation to the new team.
“I really do feel a lot of people underestimated the steep climb it is to get into a new team, to become acclimatised within the team – understanding and communication, all sorts of things,” Hamilton said in his post-race interview.
“The amount of critics and people I heard, yapping along the way, clearly not understanding. Maybe because they never had the experience or were just unaware.
“And so it felt great to come here and feel more comfortable in the car because in Melbourne I really didn’t feel comfortable. From lap one here this weekend, I was really feeling on it.”
Looking Ahead to Sunday
With the sprint race victory boosting his confidence, Hamilton now turns his focus to the grand prix, where he aims to pull off another stellar performance. Starting from fifth, he will need a near-perfect race to fight for the win and further cement his place in Ferrari’s rich history.
Will Hamilton defy the odds once again? All eyes will be on him as the lights go out in Shanghai on Sunday.
Source: CNN – Lewis Hamilton takes first-ever win for Ferrari in sprint race at Chinese Grand Prix
