Lewis Hamilton claimed his first pole position for Ferrari in dramatic fashion, narrowly beating Max Verstappen by just two-hundredths of a second ahead of the sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix. Hamilton’s stunning lap came as a surprise, especially after a disappointing debut with Ferrari in Australia, where he finished 10th.
“The last race was a disaster,” Hamilton admitted. “We knew the pace was there, but couldn’t unlock it. The team did a fantastic job making changes. I’m a bit in shock. To get pole is unbelievable—it puts us in a great position for the race.”
McLaren Struggles Despite Early Promise
McLaren, which had expected to dominate after a 1-2 qualifying finish in Australia, showed promise once again in Shanghai. Lando Norris was fastest in practice and quick during early qualifying, but mistakes in the final sector on both hot laps cost him pole.
Norris aborted his final lap after running wide at the hairpin, settling for sixth. His teammate Oscar Piastri secured third, just eight-hundredths behind Hamilton.
“I made a mistake, locked up in the last corner,” Norris explained. “The car is quick but difficult to handle at the limit. Too many mistakes.”
Strong Showing from Ferrari and Mercedes
Hamilton’s teammate, Charles Leclerc, who outperformed him in Melbourne, secured fourth, two-tenths behind. However, Hamilton looked confident from the first lap in Shanghai, where he has previously won six times. His connection with the Ferrari was clear, and he is poised for a strong performance in the sprint race.
Max Verstappen did well to push onto the front row, despite Red Bull not yet matching McLaren’s raw pace. His teammate, Liam Lawson, struggled again and will start last after failing to get his tires up to temperature, marking another tough session for the Red Bull newcomer.
Mercedes also impressed, with George Russell in fifth and rookie Kimi Antonelli continuing to make an impact, securing seventh.
Tight Battle Expected in Sprint Race
The sprint race in Shanghai promises an intense battle at the front. Hamilton, now in pole position, aims to convert his surprise start into a statement win in his debut season with Ferrari.