The Formula 1 circus roared into Shanghai for the second round of the 2025 season, and with it came the first Sprint weekend of the year. After an exciting qualifying session that saw Lewis Hamilton snatch pole position for Ferrari, all eyes were on the short-format race to see if the British driver could convert his Saturday morning success into a debut victory in red. And he didn’t disappoint, delivering a mature drive under pressure to take the chequered flag.
The race began under sunny skies, and Hamilton made a clean start from pole position, holding off the attentions of Max Verstappen in the Red Bull. Behind them, Oscar Piastri in the McLaren initially lost some momentum, allowing George Russell in the Mercedes to move up the order. Championship leader Lando Norris had a difficult start, running wide and dropping down the field from his sixth-place grid slot.
Early stages of the race saw Hamilton and Verstappen pulling away slightly from the chasing pack, but the intensity was high. Verstappen kept the Ferrari driver honest, never allowing him to build a comfortable gap. However, around a third of the way through the 19-lap sprint, Verstappen appeared to be struggling with his tyres, allowing Piastri to close in.
Meanwhile, further down the field, the rookie battle was providing plenty of entertainment. Liam Lawson in the second Red Bull was making progress from the back of the grid, engaging in wheel-to-wheel battles with the likes of Jack Doohan and Esteban Ocon. Gabriel Bortoleto and Isack Hadjar also got stuck into the midfield action, showcasing their competitive spirit.
As the race progressed, tyre management became a crucial factor. Hamilton reported graining on his front-left tyre, and Norris was also vocal about his struggles with grip. Verstappen’s earlier pressure on Hamilton faded, and Piastri seized the opportunity, making a decisive move on the Red Bull driver into the Turn 14 hairpin to take second place.
Once in clear air, Hamilton upped his pace, extending his lead over Piastri to several seconds in the final laps. Behind them, Russell came under pressure from the second Ferrari of Charles Leclerc, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli, on his F1 debut for Mercedes, was hunting down Yuki Tsunoda in the Racing Bulls for sixth place.
Lewis Hamilton crossed the finish line to take a dominant victory, a momentous occasion marking his first win for Ferrari. Oscar Piastri secured a well-deserved second place, while Max Verstappen held on to third. George Russell finished fourth, followed by Charles Leclerc in fifth. Yuki Tsunoda put in a strong performance to take sixth, with Andrea Kimi Antonelli impressing in seventh. Lando Norris managed to recover to eighth place, snatching the final point after a late overtake on Lance Stroll. The Aston Martin driver and his teammate Fernando Alonso rounded out the top ten. The final lap saw some drama as Doohan and Bortoleto made contact, resulting in a penalty for the Alpine driver.
Here’s a look at our team and driver ratings for the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint Race:
Team Ratings:
Ferrari (9/10): A fantastic result with a dominant win for Hamilton and Leclerc in the points.
McLaren (8/10): Piastri securing second is excellent, although Norris’s poor start prevented a potentially stronger double points finish.
Red Bull Racing (6/10): Verstappen on the podium, but tyre struggles were evident, and Lawson finished outside the points.
Mercedes (7/10): Russell in fourth and Antonelli in the points on his debut is a solid showing.
Racing Bulls (7/10): Tsunoda’s strong sixth place is a great reward for their efforts, with Hadjar just outside the points.
Aston Martin (5/10): Stroll initially held Norris at bay, but ultimately dropped out of the points, with Alonso further back.
Williams (4/10): Both drivers finished outside the points, struggling for pace in the sprint format.
Haas F1 Team (3/10): Both Bearman and Ocon finished down the order, unable to make a significant impact.
Sauber (2/10): Both Bortoleto and Hulkenberg finished towards the back, highlighting their current pace deficit.
Alpine (2/10): Both drivers finished outside the points, with Doohan also receiving a penalty for a last-lap incident.
Driver Ratings:
Lewis Hamilton (10/10): A flawless drive from pole to victory, managing tyres expertly.
Oscar Piastri (9/10): Recovered well from the start and executed a brilliant overtake on Verstappen.
Max Verstappen (7/10): Started strong but struggled with tyres, ultimately losing second place.
George Russell (8/10): A solid fourth place, keeping Leclerc behind for much of the race.
Charles Leclerc (7/10): Couldn’t quite match Hamilton’s pace but still secured a decent points finish.
Yuki Tsunoda (8/10): A strong and consistent drive to take a well-deserved sixth place.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli (7/10): Impressive debut, securing points in seventh after a mature race.
Lando Norris (6/10): A difficult start hampered his race, but he fought back to grab the final point.
Lance Stroll (5/10): Initially held his position but faded as the race went on.
Fernando Alonso (4/10): Finished outside the points, lacking the pace to challenge higher up.
Alexander Albon (4/10): Struggled for pace and finished outside the points.
Pierre Gasly (4/10): Finished outside the points, unable to make significant progress.
Isack Hadjar (5/10): Just missed out on points in a competitive midfield battle.
Liam Lawson (5/10): Made up some ground from the back but ultimately finished outside the points.
Oliver Bearman (4/10): Finished down the order, lacking the pace in the sprint format.
Esteban Ocon (3/10): A difficult race, finishing outside the points.
Carlos Sainz (3/10): Dropped down the order and was eventually called into the pits for new tyres.
Gabriel Bortoleto (4/10): Involved in the midfield battles but ultimately finished outside the points and spun at the end.
Nico Hulkenberg (3/10): Finished towards the back, struggling for pace.
Jack Doohan (2/10): A difficult race, finishing last and receiving a time penalty.
The Chinese Grand Prix Sprint Race delivered plenty of action and a surprise winner in Lewis Hamilton. Tyre management proved to be a key factor, and the rookie drivers provided some exciting battles. With the main Grand Prix still to come, this short-format race has certainly set the stage for an intriguing Sunday in Shanghai
Frequently Asked Questions: The 2025 Chinese Grand Prix
When and where is the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix taking place?
The 2025 Chinese Grand Prix will be held at the Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai, China, from Friday, March 21st to Sunday, March 23rd. The main Grand Prix race is scheduled for Sunday, March 23rd at 7:00 am UK time.
What is the format of the Chinese Grand Prix weekend in 2025?
The 2025 Chinese Grand Prix will be the first event of the season to feature the Sprint format. This means there will be one free practice session on Friday morning, followed by Sprint Qualifying later that morning. Saturday will consist of the Sprint Race in the morning and qualifying for the main Grand Prix in the afternoon. The Grand Prix itself will take place on Sunday morning. Additionally, the F1 Academy season will also commence in Shanghai, adding more racing action to the weekend.
What happened in the Sprint Race at the Chinese Grand Prix?
Lewis Hamilton, driving for Ferrari, secured his first victory with the team by winning the Sprint Race. He started from pole position, narrowly beating Max Verstappen in Sprint Qualifying. Oscar Piastri finished second, having overtaken Verstappen during the 19-lap race. Tyre management proved to be a significant factor, with several drivers, including Hamilton and Norris, reporting issues with tyre wear. The race also saw some intense battles among the rookie drivers further down the field.
What was the outcome of Sprint Qualifying?
Lewis Hamilton set a new lap record to take pole position for the Sprint Race, edging out Max Verstappen by a mere 0.018 seconds. Oscar Piastri qualified third, followed by Charles Leclerc and George Russell. McLaren, who were expected by some to dominate, saw Lando Norris qualify in sixth. Liam Lawson had a difficult session, ending up slowest in SQ1.
What is the weather forecast for the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix?
The weather forecast for the entire Chinese Grand Prix weekend in Shanghai is expected to be sunny with no rain. Air temperatures are predicted to peak at around 23°C on Friday and Saturday, and potentially reaching 27°C on Sunday, with little wind.
What are some key characteristics of the Shanghai International Circuit?
The Shanghai International Circuit, which has hosted the Chinese Grand Prix since 2004, is known for its high tyre wear and the long back straight which provides ample opportunity for overtaking into the Turn 14 hairpin. The layout of Sector 1, Turns 1-4, is designed to resemble the Chinese symbol ‘Shang’.
Which drivers have been historically successful at the Chinese Grand Prix?
Lewis Hamilton holds the record for the most wins at the Chinese Grand Prix, having won it six times (2008, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2019). Fernando Alonso has won twice (2005 and 2013), and Max Verstappen won in 2024.
What are some of the main storylines and questions heading into the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix?
Several key storylines are developing. Firstly, there’s the question of whether McLaren’s strong performance in Melbourne, where Lando Norris won, will translate to the more conventional Shanghai circuit and if they truly have a significant advantage. The inter-team battle at McLaren between Norris and Oscar Piastri is also one to watch. Additionally, Liam Lawson will be aiming for a stronger showing after a difficult debut for Red Bull in Australia, and Jack Doohan will be looking to impress amidst speculation about his seat at Alpine. The front-row lockout for the Sprint Race between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen also rekindles their past rivalry.
