Lewis Hamilton secured his first Sprint pole since the 2021 season, bouncing back from a difficult start in Australia to put Ferrari on top at the Shanghai International Circuit. The British driver’s perfect lap in the final qualifying session earned him the second Sprint pole of his career at one of his favorite circuits.
Hamilton’s strong performance was a major surprise, but also a significant disappointment for McLaren and Lando Norris, who made a strategic error and were outpaced by Oscar Piastri. On the other hand, Max Verstappen missed out on sprint pole by just 18 thousandths, representing a positive side of Red Bull.
In the midfield, Yuki Tsunoda continued to impress with Racing Bulls, securing a spot in Q3 and beating Kimi Antonelli by less than 0.04s. Carlos Sainz struggled with the Williams, failing to post competitive lap times and ending up P13.
The Ferrari driver’s victory is an important message: he hasn’t lost his speed, but simply needed to find it. Hamilton will face a strong challenge in the Sprint race, but Ferrari’s statement was clear – they are back on track.
Key quotes from Hamilton:
“I haven’t lost my speed, I just needed to find it. And when I do, I’m unstoppable.”
Hamilton’s performance is a testament to his experience and ability, but also raises questions about Red Bull’s decision to promote Liam Lawson over Tsunoda. The Japanese driver continues to impress with Racing Bulls, leaving Red Bull wondering if they made a mistake.
The Chinese GP Sprint qualifying results will be closely watched, as Hamilton looks to build on his strong start and Ferrari seeks to make a statement in the midfield battle.
Source: https://www.planetf1.com/features/winners-and-losers-2025-chinese-grand-prix-sprint-qualifying