Hamilton won Saturday's sprint
Clear. Dry. Air +24C, highway +37C
If we consider the sprint to be a race, then Saturday's sprint in China is the earliest race of the season in terms of time on the calendar. At this time, most of the Formula 1 audience (non–Chinese) is having sweet dreams after a hard week in order to wake up at a more familiar time for the main events - Saturday qualifying and Sunday's Grand Prix. Nevertheless, for the second year in a row, the Chinese stage has been held in a Saturday sprint format.
Qualifying for the sprint ended with Lewis Hamilton's victory at the wheel of a Ferrari, unexpected because many did not doubt the success of McLaren. Lando Norris showed the best time in Friday's only practice session, led in the second qualifying session, and in the final he made a mistake on a fast lap and rolled back.
As a result, Hamilton and Verstappen started the sprint from the first row of the starting field, and from the second – Piastri and Leclair, with Russell and Norris on the third. The sprint distance is 19 laps.
Before the start, Isaac Hajjar and Pierre Gasly attracted the attention of the stewards. Isaac was training for the start at the exit from the pit lane, and Pierre was driving too slowly on the track. The stewards promptly reviewed both incidents and concluded that there were no violations in Hajjar's case, and Gasli's actions would be investigated after the sprint.
In the race, everyone started on Medium.
Hamilton retained the lead at the start. Norris hit gravel before the sixth turn and lost three positions. Russell beat Leclair to it. Bortoleto and Hajjar each lost one position, Duane lost two, and Gasly regained three.
Top ten on lap 2: Hamilton - Verstappen - Piastri - Russell - Leclair - Tsunoda - Antonelli - Stroll - Norris - Alonso.
Hamilton pulled away from Verstappen, protecting himself from the DRS attack.
Lawson, braking at the hairpin, attacked Duane – they touched the front wheels, and Liam stepped forward. The stewards took the incident into consideration. Next, Liam overtook Okon, rising to 17th place.
On lap nine, Verstappen narrowed the gap to Hamilton as Lewis's tires were granulating. Norris also complained about the wear on the rubber.
Max tried to attack, but Lewis was able to break away.
On lap 9, Hajjar attacked Gasly, but Pierre regained his position.
On lap 10, Lawson was ahead of Bortoleto, and his car lost a part of its aerodynamic body kit. Gasly overtook Sainz in the fight for 13th place, and Carlos changed tires.
Piastri narrowed the gap from Verstappen – Max was already complaining about heavy rubber wear, and on Lap 15 Oscar took the lead, rising to second place.
Top ten on lap 16: Hamilton - Piastri - Verstappen - Russell - Leclair - Tsunoda - Antonelli - Stroll - Norris - Alonso.
Piastri increased the pace, pulling away from Verstappen, but Hamilton also increased, guaranteeing victory.
On lap 18, Norris beat Stroll to eighth place.
On the last lap, Duane attacked Bortoleto at the hairpin, turning his opponent around and blocking Hulkenberg, who was riding behind, as all three rolled back to the last positions. The stewards punished Jack with a 10-second penalty and two demerit points.
Lewis Hamilton finished first, taking the first sprint victory for himself and Ferrari. Oscar Piastri finished second, Max Verstappen finished the sprint in third.
Qualifying for Sunday's Grand Prix is ahead.
Sprint results
Pilot
The Time Team
Speed
Pit
1. L. Hamilton
Ferrari
30:39.965
202.267
0
2. O.Piastri
McLaren
+6.889
201.512
0
3 . M.Verstappen
Red Bull
+9.804
201.195
0
4. D.Russell
Mercedes
+11.592
201.000
0
5 . Sh.Leclair
Ferrari
+12.190
200.935
0
6 . Yu.Tsunoda
Racing Bulls
+22.288
199.846
0
7 . K.Antonelli
Mercedes
+23.038
199.765
0
8 . L. Norris
McLaren
+23.471
199.719
0
9 . L.Stroll
Aston Martin
+24.916
199.564
0
10. F.Alonso
Aston Martin
+38.218
198.151
0
11. A.Elbon
Williams
+39.292
198.038
0
12. P.Gasli
Alpine
+39.649
198.000
0
13. A.Hajjar
Racing Bulls
+42.400
197.711
0
14. L. Lawson
Red Bull
+44.904
197.448
0
15. O. Berman
Haas
+45.649
197.370
0
16. E.Okon
Haas
+46.182
197.314
0
17. K.Sainz
Williams
+51.376
196.772
1
18. The city of Bortoleto
Sauber
+53.940
196.506
0
19. N. Hulkenberg
Sauber
+56.682
196.222
0
20. D.Duane *
Alpine
+70.212
195.857
0
* Jack Duane received a 10-second penalty for causing a collision
Best lap: Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) 1:35.399 (lap 2, 205.700 km/h).
Position in the championship : Personal standings
Pilot
A country
Team
Points
=
1. L.Norris
McLaren F1 Team
26
=
2. M.Verstappen
Oracle Red Bull Racing
24
=
3. d.Russell
Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team
20
=
4. K.Antonelli
Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team
14
=
5. A.Albon
Atlassian Williams Racing
10
6. O. Piastri
McLaren F1 Team
9
7. L. Hamilton
Scuderia Ferrari HP
9
8. L. Stroll
Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team
8
9. Sh.Leclair
Scuderia Ferrari HP
8
10. N. Hulkenberg
Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber
6
11. Yu.Tsunoda
Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team
3
Championship position : Constructors' Cup
Team
The motor
Points
=
1. McLaren F1 Team
Mercedes
35
=
2. Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team
Mercedes
34
=
3. Oracle Red Bull Racing
Honda RBPT
24
4. Scuderia Ferrari HP
Ferrari
17
5. Atlassian Williams Racing
Mercedes
10
6. Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team
Mercedes
8
7. Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber
Ferrari
6
=
8. Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team
Honda RBPT
3
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