In a thrilling display during Chinese GP at the Shanghai International Circuit, Lewis Hamilton secured pole position for the first Sprint Qualifying session of the Formula 1 2025. Representing Ferrari, Hamilton’s lap time of 1m 30.849s not only earned him the top spot but also set a new track record.
Top Contenders
Hamilton’s performance edged out Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by a mere 0.018 seconds, underscoring the intense competition. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri claimed the third spot with a time of 1m 30.929s, while Charles Leclerc, Hamilton’s teammate at Ferrari, secured fourth place.
Notable Performances and Challenges
George Russell led the Mercedes effort, finishing fifth. Lando Norris of McLaren, despite showing promise in earlier sessions, ended up sixth after a mistake in SQ3.
Red Bull’s Liam Lawson continued to face challenges, exiting in SQ1 and qualifying 20th after a lap time deletion for exceeding track limits.
Formula 1 Chinese GP Sprint Qualifying Results:
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) : 1:30.849
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) : +0.018
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) : +0.080
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) : +0.208
- George Russell (Mercedes) : +0.320
- Lando Norris (McLaren) : +0.544
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) : +0.889
- Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls) : +0.924
- Alex Albon (Williams) : +1.003
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) : +1.133
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) : 1:31.815
- Oliver Bearman (Haas) : 1:31.978
- Carlos Sainz (Williams) : 1:32.325
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) : 1:32.564
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) : No SQ2 time
- Jack Doohan (Alpine) : 1:32.575
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine) : 1:32.640
- Esteban Ocon (Haas) : 1:32.651
- Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) : 1:32.675
- Liam Lawson (Red Bull) : 1:32.729
Looking Ahead
Hamilton’s pole position marks a significant achievement in his inaugural season with Ferrari, especially following a challenging debut in Australia. As the Sprint Race approaches, fans eagerly anticipate whether Hamilton can convert this pole into a victory, or if Verstappen and Piastri will challenge his lead.
