Shocked Hamilton breaks Shanghai record for first Ferrari pole.

Posted : 21 March 2025

Lewis Hamilton delivered a breathtaking performance at the Shanghai International Circuit, setting a new lap record and securing pole position for the Chinese Grand Prix sprint. This achievement comes in just his second race weekend with Ferrari, marking a strong start to his new chapter in Formula 1. His record-breaking lap showcased both his skill and Ferrari’s growing competitiveness.

The British driver, who holds the record for most Chinese Grand Prix victories, completed the 5.451km track in 1 minute 30.849 seconds. This shattered the previous benchmark of 1:32.238 set by Michael Schumacher in 2004 during the inaugural race at the venue. Hamilton’s incredible lap time signaled Ferrari’s resurgence after a disappointing season opener in Melbourne.

Max Verstappen of Red Bull, the reigning world champion and last year’s sprint and race winner in China, finished just 0.018 seconds behind Hamilton. Oscar Piastri of McLaren secured third place, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was fourth, indicating a notable improvement from their struggles in Australia. Hamilton’s achievement drew loud cheers from the enthusiastic Chinese fans as he emerged from his car.

Expressing his surprise, Hamilton admitted he did not expect to be in such a strong position so soon. He noted that the car felt better right from the start of the session, making his pole position all the more rewarding. He also highlighted the unexpected advantage over McLaren, which had shown impressive speed during winter testing and the early rounds of the season.

Lando Norris, the winner in Melbourne, faced a setback as he went wide and abandoned his final flying lap, leaving him in sixth place. He acknowledged his mistake, citing braking issues in the last corner. Despite his frustration, Norris admitted the McLaren was difficult to handle throughout the session. Verstappen, on the other hand, was relieved to secure second place, feeling fortunate given Red Bull’s struggles with pace earlier in the day.

Mercedes’ George Russell claimed fifth place, finishing ahead of Norris. Kimi Antonelli, also driving for Mercedes, secured seventh, followed by Yuki Tsunoda’s RB, Alex Albon’s Williams, and Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin, completing the top ten. Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur acknowledged the team’s progress but remained cautious, emphasizing the need for further analysis and consistency.

The sprint qualifying format required all cars to use medium-compound tyres in the first two sessions (SQ1 and SQ2). Red Bull rookie Liam Lawson endured a frustrating start, seeing his lap time deleted for exceeding track limits and ultimately qualifying last. The 19-lap sprint race will take place on Saturday morning, followed by traditional qualifying for Sunday’s 56-lap Chinese Grand Prix.

Shocked Hamilton breaks Shanghai record for first Ferrari pole.

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