Lewis Hamilton's First Ferrari Triumph at Chinese GP Sprint

Lewis Hamilton's First Ferrari Victory

Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, achieved a personal milestone by winning his first race as a Ferrari driver at the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint. Starting from pole position, Hamilton managed to hold onto his lead throughout the 19-lap race, despite facing challenges from Red Bull's Max Verstappen. The British driver's triumph in the sprint race marked his first since 2021, casting a new light on Ferrari's prospects in a season that began on a less-than-stellar note in Australia.

The drama began early on with Verstappen pulling alongside Hamilton in an intense early battle. However, the Red Bull driver soon encountered tyre issues, which proved detrimental to his pace. By lap 15, the door was open for McLaren's rising star, Oscar Piastri, to slide past into second place. Hamilton managed to create a considerable buffer, eventually crossing the finish line 6.8 seconds ahead of Piastri, with Verstappen trailing behind in third.

Implications for the Season

The victory was more than just a personal triumph for Hamilton. For Ferrari, it was a much-needed boost in what has been a challenging season. The team has been grappling with performance issues and was eager for a strong result after the season-opening Australian Grand Prix left them off the pace. Hamilton's performance in China not only brought valuable points but also renewed optimism for a competitive championship run.

Elsewhere in the sprint, other drivers had to navigate their own battles. Lando Norris, fresh off a victory in Melbourne, had a tougher time, finishing eighth after an error at Turn 6 cost him valuable positions. Meanwhile, Mercedes' George Russell impressed by overtaking Ferrari's Charles Leclerc on the first lap and securing fourth place. A contentious battle for sixth saw Yuki Tsunoda of Racing Bull and Andrea Kimi Antonelli for Mercedes going wheel-to-wheel.

After the race, the FIA conducted inspections which found all vehicles in compliance with regulations, though Williams had previously incurred penalties due to wing camera violations. Hamilton's win, alongside the eight points he garnered, revives his and Ferrari's hopes for a robust championship campaign, building on the single point he scored in Australia.