Lewis Hamilton secured the 2025 Chinese GP Sprint pole after setting a new lap record at the Shanghai International Circuit.
In just his second race weekend with Ferrari, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion showcased his skill and determination setting a new lap record of 1:30.849 to edge out reigning champion Max Verstappen by a mere 0.018 seconds.
The 2025 Chinese GP Sprint pole marked a significant milestone for Lewis Hamilton as it was his first pole position since joining Ferrari and his first in any format since July 2023.
The Sprint Qualifying session was filled with drama, surprises, and standout performances across the grid, as teams and drivers battled for supremacy on the newly resurfaced Shanghai track.
The session began under ideal conditions with drivers required to use medium tires in SQ1 as per the regulations for Sprint weekends.
Hamilton wasted no time in asserting himself setting an early benchmark that was eventually surpassed by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who went half a second clear of the field.
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso briefly claimed second place before Lando Norris of McLaren topped the timesheets. However, Hamilton responded emphatically in the final runs of SQ1 reclaiming the top spot ahead of Norris and Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc.
At the other end of the spectrum, Alpine endured a disappointing session with Jack Doohan and Pierre Gasly eliminated in 16th and 17th positions respectively.
Esteban Ocon and Nico Hulkenberg also struggled, while Liam Lawson’s Red Bull suffered from tire issues and a track limits violation, relegating him to last place.
In SQ2, the competition intensified as drivers pushed their limits to secure a spot in the final qualifying segment.
Hamilton continued to impress, consistently finding pace in his Ferrari. Meanwhile Verstappen who had been relatively quiet in SQ1 began to show glimpses of his speed but remained behind Hamilton and other frontrunners.
The McLarens of Piastri and Norris were expected to dominate based on their strong form in winter testing and the season opener in Australia. However, Norris made critical errors on his flying laps in SQ3, ultimately finishing sixth.
Piastri managed to secure third place but fell short of challenging Hamilton and Verstappen for the 2025 Chinese GP Sprint pole.
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The final segment of Sprint Qualifying saw Hamilton deliver a near-perfect lap that left even him surprised. His first sector was particularly strong, where he gained crucial time over his rivals.
Verstappen mounted a fierce challenge on his sole run in SQ3 but fell just short of Hamilton’s time despite setting what would have been a new lap record for the circuit.
The Dutchman later admitted that Red Bull’s performance had exceeded expectations after a lackluster practice session where both he and Lawson finished outside the top ten.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc secured fourth place but was notably slower than his teammate Hamilton, raising questions about intra-team dynamics as the season progresses.
Mercedes showed promise with George Russell finishing fifth and rookie Kimi Antonelli impressing in seventh. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll delivered solid performances, with Alonso narrowly missing out on SQ3 but showcasing the team’s potential.
Further down the grid, Racing Bulls’ Yuki Tsunoda and Isack Hadjar demonstrated consistent pace to qualify eighth and ninth respectively.
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Williams also had reason to celebrate as Alex Albon secured a top-ten start for the Sprint race. However, Carlos Sainz struggled to extract performance from his Williams car finishing outside the top ten alongside Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto.
Looking ahead to Saturday’s Sprint race, all eyes will be on Hamilton as he attempts to convert his 2025 Chinese GP Sprint pole position into victory against fierce competition from Verstappen and Piastri.
The battle for midfield supremacy promises to be equally intense, with teams like Aston Martin, Racing Bulls, and Williams eager to capitalize on any opportunities that arise during the race.
2025 Chinese Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying Results
