The seven-time world champion, who joined Ferrari with an already impressive record of 105 wins and 104 poles, added another remarkable feat to his name by smashing the Shanghai circuit lap record. He secured the top slot for the 100km sprint race on Saturday, leaving his fans thrilled.
Friday’s sprint qualifying was a moment that justified the hype around the 40-year-old’s move to Ferrari. After a somewhat disappointing season-opener in Australia, where he qualified eighth and finished 10th, Hamilton’s performance in China was a strong statement.
When asked about setting a new benchmark, even though sprint poles don’t officially count, Hamilton expressed his surprise and shock. His initial reaction over the team radio was one of disbelief, followed by laughter.
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| Formula One F1 – Chinese Grand Prix – Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, China – March 21, 2025: Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton during practice. Photo: Reuters |
“I’m honestly gobsmacked and taken aback by this,” Hamilton said after beating Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by a mere 0.018 of a second. “I wasn’t sure when we’d get to this position, especially after the difficult start to the season in Australia,” he added, reflecting on the adjustments he had to make when joining Ferrari.
Determined to turn things around, Hamilton approached the Chinese Grand Prix with aggression and a will to fine-tune his car’s performance. “I started the weekend with a better feeling in the car,” he said, still seemingly surprised by his pole position. “I can’t believe we are at the front, ahead of McLaren, who have been so quick in testing, the last race, and even today.”
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri qualified third, while championship leader Lando Norris could only manage sixth. Hamilton’s performance has given him a boost of confidence, and he believes there’s still more to come: “Even though it’s not the main pole, it inspires me to find more performance and see if we can stay competitive.”
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| Formula One F1 – Chinese Grand Prix – Practice – Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, China – March 21, 2025: Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton prepares ahead of the first practice session. Photo: Reuters |
Hamilton, a record six-time winner in China, hasn’t started from pole position since Hungary in 2023. Friday also marked the first time he out-qualified his talented teammate Charles Leclerc in Ferrari red. Leclerc, known for his speed over a single lap, was 0.208 seconds slower than Hamilton.
“I struggled in comparison to Lewis today,” Leclerc admitted. “He was just faster, and I felt I was a step behind him from the beginning.”
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| Formula One F1 – Chinese Grand Prix – Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, China – March 21, 2025: Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton during the sprint qualifying. Photo: Reuters |
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