Formula 1 News: Hamilton nips Verstappen for China Sprint pole

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton won pole position for the Chinese GP Sprint, narrowly beating the Red Bull of Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Hamilton posted a time of 1m 30.849s to pip Verstappen to the top spot by 0.018s, with Piastri and the other Ferrari of Charles Leclerc not much further back in an ultra-close session.

Hamilton’s lap was a new record around the repaved and now billiard smooth Shanghai International Circuit.

“I’m just a bit gobsmacked, I’m a bit taken back by it,” said Hamilton. “I didn’t know when we would get to this position.

“After last weekend, it was a difficult start to the week. Came here with aggression, I started out this morning with a better feeling in the car and I can’t believe we are ahead of McLaren, who have been so fast through winter testing, last weekend and here.

“Wow, even though it is not the main pole, it gives me real inspiration to go into tomorrow. I’ve always gone well at this track, I think it’s the fans and the weather is great as well.”

After being nowhere all morning, Verstappen had to ring the neck out of the inferior Red Bull to put it on the front row. It will be the 14th time Hamilton and Verstappen have shared a F1 front row.  Will we see fireworks in the race?

Hamilton’s former Mercedes teammate George Russell was 5th.

Lando Norris, who was fastest for McLaren in SQ2, only to choke with a mistake on his first SQ3 lap and abandon the second. He will start 6th behind Hamilton.

6th was Kimi Antonelli, around half a second down on more experienced teammate Russell,

Racing Bulls driver Yuki Tsunoda was 7th, while the Williams of Alex Albon and the lead Aston Martin of Lance Stroll rounded out the top 10 positions.

While Max Verstappen will start on the front row, his teammate Liam Lawson will start dead last – out in SQ1 – the New Zealander’s deleted final lap time for exceeding track limits left him 20th. Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda, who should have gotten Lawson’s seat, will start 8th in an inferior car.

2025 Chinese GP Sprint Qualifying Results