Lewis Hamilton was imperial during the Sprint race of the China Grand Prix, which he dominated with his head and shoulders on Saturday, offering a first victory with Ferrari whom he joined at the start of the year.
For his second weekend in red, the seven-time world champion has been imperial so far on the Shanghai layout, where he won six times in the past. Author of a very good start from the pole, the new recruit of the Scuderia led this 19 -round race from start to finish (against 56 for the GP on Sunday).
If the GP remains the dominic high mass, the King Lewis can still savor: “I felt very comfortable today. I do not feel pressure, I know that the team wants to win and that it means everything for it, ”he reacted, ovationed by the public.
Verstappen did not hold the pace
The Briton won ahead of the Australian Oscar Piastri (McLaren) and the Dutch title holder Max Verstappen (Red Bull), third. “I tried to hold on, but unfortunately, in the last eight laps, we did not have the pace,” regretted Verstappen, long second in the race.
The British George Russell (Mercedes) and the Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) completed the top 5 of this race which offers points in the championship: eight for the first to a point for the 8th.
Lando Norris in pain
On a circuit that greatly deteriorates the gums, McLaren was a team to beat at the start of the weekend. The English team, however, struggles to respond: if Piastri, a 3rd sprint, has never been able to compete in front of Hamilton, Lando Norris seemed to be well behind the wheel of his MCL39.
Only sixth on the starting grid, the leader in the championship, winner of the first GP of the season last Sunday in Australia, made an error in the first moments of the race, demoting in the hierarchy. He finished eighth.
