F1 Chinese GP LIVE: Qualifying start time after Lewis Hamilton claims brilliant win for Ferrari in sprint
Lewis Hamilton claimed a historic first F1 win for Ferrari as he was victorious in the sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix on Saturday.
The 40-year-old, who moved to Ferrari amid much fanfare from Mercedes in the off-season, secured a “gobsmacking” pole position with a brilliant lap on Friday.
On Saturday, Hamilton did well to retain the lead from lights out in the 19-lap race and he held off Max Verstappen’s challenge midway through the race superbly.
Oscar Piastri finished second for McLaren, after a late overtake on Verstappen, who finished third. Championship leader Lando Norris finished eighth, taking home just one point.
Follow live updates of the Chinese Grand Prix with The Independent
F1 CHINESE GRAND PRIX - LATEST UPDATES
- Qualifying for the Chinese GP is at 7am (GMT)
- Lewis Hamilton wins the China GP sprint race; Piastri 2nd; Verstappen 3rd
- Click HERE for the top-8 in the sprint
- LIGHTS OUT! Hamilton retains lead at start
- TRIBUTE: Rock-and-roll Eddie Jordan gave Schumacher his debut – and his flamboyance captivated F1’s paddock
Lewis Hamilton wins for Ferrari!
03:35 , Kieran JacksonHistoric moment for Lewis Hamilton - he wins the sprint race for his first win for Ferrari!
A sturdy performance, retaining the lead at the start, before pulling away from Max Verstappen!
Smiles in the pit-lane from Hamilton’s dad Anthony!
What time is qualifying?
03:56So... that makes anticipation high ahead of the real deal later!
Qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix is at 7am (GMT).
Don’t miss it!
Lewis Hamilton on his win:
04:30 , Kieran Jackson“I woke up feeling great today. We have this amazing crowd... the race was difficult, a lot of people underestimated the steep climb it is to come to a new team.
“The amount of critics, yapping on the way, maybe because they’ve not had the experience. Great to come here and feel more comfortable in the car, really on it. We’ve fine-tuned the car and it felt great today.
“I don’t feel the pressure. I know the tifosi wants to win, know it means everything ot them. I said the other day, Rome wasn’t built in one day, one step at a time. Be diligent and stay calm. It’s a marathon not a sprint right!”
Oscar Piastri, after finishing second:
04:13 , Kieran Jackson“It was a really productive sprint, finishing second is a great result. I learned a lot. We didn’t have enough pace for Lewis out front but we’ve got some ideas for later.”
Max Verstappen after finishing third:
03:59“I tried to give it a go, unfortunately the last eight laps we didn’t have the pace to the others. Trying to survive out there, I take P3.
“We’ll look into the data and see what we ca improve on the car but overall we lack pace.”
Oscar Piastri:
03:47 , Kieran Jackson“Some good learnings for tomorrow, thanks everyone.”
Lewis Hamilton:
03:41 , Kieran Jackson“Great job guys! Yes! Great job mate.”
TOP-8 IN CHINA GP SPRINT RACE
03:39 , Kieran Jackson1. Lewis Hamilton
2. Oscar Piastri
3. Max Verstappen
4. George Russell
5. Charles Leclerc
6. Yuki Tsunoda
7. Kimi Antonelli
8. Lando Norris
Lewis Hamilton has a healthy lead (Lap 17/19)
03:33 , Kieran JacksonIt’s a five-second lead for Hamilton, with two laps left!
Piastri now 1.5 seconds lead ahead of Verstappen.
Lando Norris, meanwhile, has finally got up to eighth with a dive down the inside of Lance Stroll!
And that’s Norris in the points!
Oscar Piastri takes second! (Lap 15/19)
03:29 , Kieran JacksonPiastri gets it done down the inside of the back straight!
Piastri in P2! Can he catch Hamilton, two seconds down the road?!
Oscar Piastri makes a move on Max Verstappen (Lap 14/19)
03:27Piastri has a sighter dow the inside of the main straight but Verstappen defends well!
Out in front, Lewis Hamilton now has a 2.0 second lead to Verstappen!
4-8: Russell, Leclerc, Tsunoda, Antonelli, Stroll
Antonelli the only one within DRS...
Max Verstappen struggling (Lap 11/19)
03:22Max Verstappen was pushing - within 0.3 seconds of Hamilton - but maybe he’s ruined his tyres, as he’s dropped 1.5 seconds behind!
Verstappen now under pressure from Piastri - 0.6 secs the gap.
4-8: Russell, Leclerc, Tsunoda, Antonelli, Stroll
Norris now three seconds behind Stroll in ninth!
Hamilton:
03:17“I’ve got front left graining.”
Verstappen now within DRS... 0.7 secs...
Lewis Hamilton still in P1! (Lap 8/19)
03:16The race just getting some structure now...
Hamilton has a 1.1 second lead so it’s marginal... but it’s still outside DRS!
Piastri has it though by 0.8 seconds to Verstappen!
4-10: Russell, Leclerc, Tsunoda, Antonelli, Stroll, Norris, Alonso
Lewis Hamilton outside of DRS range! (Lap 3/19)
03:10 , Kieran JacksonThis is the old school Lewis Hamilton we remember!
He’s flying in the SF-25 around Shanghai - and with a one-two finish, he’s outside DRS to Verstappen!
Top-10: Hamilton, Verstappen, Piastri, Russell, Leclerc, Tsunoda, Antonelli, Stroll, Norris, Alonso
A reminder: only the top-8 get points! Work to do for Norris...
George Russell takes fourth from Leclerc!
03:07 , Kieran JacksonThe Mercedes getting it done down the back straight for fourth!
Hamilton 0.7 secs in front of Verstappen - can he get out of DRS range early doors here?!
Lights out!
03:06 , Kieran JacksonThey’re away cleanly - and Lewis Hamilton reacts well!
Max Verstappen goes aggressive but the Brit holds the Red Bull behind him at turn 1!
Lando Norris, meanwhile, has dropped from sixth to ninth (and out of the points) after getting out of shape in combat with George Russell!
All clean though...
Formation lap!
03:02Lewis Hamilton - yes, Lewis Hamilton! - leads the pack around then for the formation lap ahead of the sprint!
It will be 19 laps around this circuit, with the entire field on medium tyres to start with.
A reminder: no mandatory pit stops for this race.
Who will lead after lap one here?!
Good morning!
02:58 , Kieran JacksonA quick reminder of the format of this race and the points on offer:
Saturday: Sprint race (Top-eight receive points, finish order has no impact on grand prix grid, no mandatory pit stops); Grand Prix qualifying
Sunday: Grand Prix
How many points are on offer in the sprint race?
P1 - Eight points
P2 - Seven points
P3 - Six points
P4 - Five points
P5 - four points
P6 - three points
P7 - two points
P8 - one point
Rock-and-roll Eddie Jordan gave Schumacher his debut – and his flamboyance captivated F1’s paddock
02:41 , Kieran JacksonAn old-school Irishman of quick wit and vibrancy, Eddie Jordan was a Formula One figure whose influence touched every corner of motorsport’s most-famed paddock throughout a career in the sport lasting over 30 years.
From a promising race driver and savvy team owner to a captivating broadcaster and erudite manager, Jordan’s sad passing at the age of 76 on Thursday, after a year-long battle with cancer, has sent shockwaves through a sport now in its pomp.
Full tribute below:
Rock-and-roll Eddie Jordan had an Irish flamboyance which captivated F1’s paddock
Formula 1 in talks over new grand prix with Stefano Domenicali ‘impressed’ by plans
02:30 , Kieran JacksonA new grand prix in Bangkok could soon come to fruition after Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali paid a visit to Thailand to discuss plans.
Domenicali travelled to the Asian country in the days following last weekend’s season opener in Australia, meeting Thai prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
There, he heard about the nation’s ambitions to stage an inaugural F1 race on its streets.
Thailand is one of several countries eager to join an already packed calendar - but with the Dutch Grand Prix’s impending departure from the schedule in 2026, there may just be space for a new race down the line.
VIDEO: Lewis Hamilton reacts to pole
02:01 , Kieran JacksonCharles Leclerc after qualifying P4:
01:05“I struggled on my side of the garage, I felt I was a step back to Lewis - Lewis was faster today.
“Everything was quite tight, we start P4 but Lewis on pole, hopefully we can have a good race tomorrow.”
Lewis Hamilton takes swipe at Max Verstappen over radio conduct:
00:03 , Kieran Jackson“Go and listen to the radio calls with others and their engineers...far worse,” Hamilton said, in his press conference ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix.
“The conversation that Max has with an engineer [Lambiase] over the years, the abuse that the poor guy’s taken and you never write about it, but you wrote about the smallest little discussion I had with mine.”
SPRINT QUALIFYING REPORT: Lewis Hamilton ‘gobsmacked’ after first F1 pole position for Ferrari in China
Friday 21 March 2025 23:15 , Kieran JacksonLewis Hamilton landed his first pole position as a Ferrari driver by taking top spot for Saturday’s sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix.
The 40-year-old, in only his second appearance for the Italian giants, saw off Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by just 0.018 seconds in Shanghai to ensure he will start from the front for Saturday’s 19-lap dash to the chequered flag.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri qualified third with Hamilton’s team-mate Charles Leclerc fourth. George Russell took fifth for Mercedes, one place ahead of Lando Norris.
“I’m a bit gobsmacked and taken aback by it,” Hamilton said after his P1 time.
Lewis Hamilton ‘gobsmacked’ after first F1 pole position for Ferrari in China
SPRINT RACE - FULL STARTING GRID
02:52 , Kieran Jackson1. Lewis Hamilton
2. Max Verstappen
3. Oscar Piastri
4. Charles Leclerc
5. George Russell
6. Lando Norris
7. Kimi Antonelli
8. Yuki Tsunoda
9. Alex Albon
10. Lance Stroll
11. Fernando Alonso
12. Ollie Bearman
13. Carlos Sainz
14. Gabriel Bortoleto
15. Isack Hadjar
16. Jack Doohan
17. Pierre Gasly
18. Esteban Ocon
19. Nico Hulkenberg
20. Ollie Bearman
SPRINT RACE - FULL STARTING GRID
Friday 21 March 2025 22:26 , Kieran Jackson1. Lewis Hamilton
2. Max Verstappen
3. Oscar Piastri
4. Charles Leclerc
5. George Russell
6. Lando Norris
7. Kimi Antonelli
8. Yuki Tsunoda
9. Alex Albon
10. Lance Stroll
11. Fernando Alonso
12. Ollie Bearman
13. Carlos Sainz
14. Gabriel Bortoleto
15. Isack Hadjar
16. Jack Doohan
17. Pierre Gasly
18. Esteban Ocon
19. Nico Hulkenberg
20. Ollie Bearman
Lando Norris after qualifying P6:
Friday 21 March 2025 21:25 , Kieran Jackson“I made a mistake, locked up in the last corner, we struggled a bit more - not quick enough simply, we’ve had difficulties. Too many mistakes, too difficult a car to drive.
“We’ve been struggling with the front locking. A lot more aligned with Bahrain, a lot windier, both myself and Oscar struggled a lot more. Pushing a bit hard.
“This was me trying to push a bit too much, need to back off a little bit. I think the car is in a good window, we can definitely go forward.”
VIDEO: Lando Norris's mistake on his final lap
Friday 21 March 2025 20:07 , Kieran JacksonNorris starts the sprint in P6.
He was favourite for #F1Sprint pole but a mistake at Turn 14 cost Lando 😔#F1#ChineseGPpic.twitter.com/WZa3bFgysd
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 21, 2025
SPRINT WEEKEND FORMAT
Friday 21 March 2025 19:03 , Kieran JacksonFriday: Free Practice 1; sprint qualifying (for Saturday’s sprint race)
Saturday: Sprint race (Top-eight receive points, finish order has no impact on grand prix grid); Grand Prix qualifying
Sunday: Grand Prix
How many points are on offer in the sprint race?
P1 - Eight points
P2 - Seven points
P3 - Six points
P4 - Five points
P5 - four points
P6 - three points
P7 - two points
P8 - one point
TIMELINE: Eddie Jordan’s extraordinary career from Dublin banker to F1 team owner
Friday 21 March 2025 18:19 , Kieran JacksonFormer Formula One team owner Eddie Jordan has died aged 76, his family have announced.
The Irishman revealed in December he was suffering with bladder and prostate cancer which had spread to his spine and pelvis.
A family statement, published by rugby club London Irish where Jordan was a patron, said he “passed away peacefully with family by his side in Cape Town” on Thursday.
Eddie Jordan’s extraordinary career from Dublin banker to F1 team owner
Lewis Hamilton:
Friday 21 March 2025 17:24 , Kieran Jackson“My first sector was really strong, little increments through the whole place. Still time to find. It’s amazing the No 1 as you stop in the red car, pretty incredible!
“The McLarens are very fast, as is Max, but we’re in a good position.”
Lovely scene at the end too as he embraces his dad Anthony!
Max Verstappen after P2:
Friday 21 March 2025 16:12“I’m very happy, I do think in the first practice we were quite a bit off, happy to be on the front row.
“We should not have even been on the front row, very happy to be second.
“The balance isn’t massively off, this is good for us and a motivation boost for us.
“I was happy with what I was doing in qualifying. It will be very hard to keep the McLarens behind, we can all race.”
TRIBUTE: Rock-and-roll Eddie Jordan gave Schumacher his debut – and his flamboyance captivated F1’s paddock
Friday 21 March 2025 15:19 , Kieran JacksonAn old-school Irishman of quick wit and vibrancy, Eddie Jordan was a Formula One figure whose influence touched every corner of motorsport’s most-famed paddock throughout a career in the sport lasting over 30 years.
From a promising race driver and savvy team owner to a captivating broadcaster and erudite manager, Jordan’s sad passing at the age of 76 on Thursday, after a year-long battle with cancer, has sent shockwaves through a sport now in its pomp.
Rock-and-roll Eddie Jordan had an Irish flamboyance which captivated F1’s paddock
Lewis Hamilton's pole-setting lap in full:
Friday 21 March 2025 14:12 , Kieran JacksonBack on top 🤩
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 21, 2025
Ride onboard with @LewisHamilton as he flies around the Shanghai International Circuit on his way to #F1Sprint pole 💪#F1#ChineseGPpic.twitter.com/4TBWH7QjHS
Driver Standings after round one:
Friday 21 March 2025 13:28 , Kieran Jackson1. Lando Norris - 25 points
2. Max Verstappen - 18 points
3. George Russell - 15 points
4. Kimi Antonelli - 12 points
5. Alex Albon - 10 points
6. Lance Stroll - 8 points
7. Nico Hulkenberg - 6 points
8. Charles Leclerc - 4 points
9. Oscar Piastri - 2 points
10. Lewis Hamilton - 1 point
11. Pierre Gasly - 0 points
12. Yuki Tsunoda - 0 points
14. Ollie Bearman - 0 points
Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur after sprint qualifying:
Friday 21 March 2025 12:48 , Kieran Jackson“We are clearly happy with this afternoon’s result. After a difficult qualifying last week in Australia, today’s performance is a boost for the whole team and is definitely very positive, also for Lewis who has been quick throughout the whole day, quickest in SQ1 too.
“Charles was also competitive and with both cars on the front two rows we can aim to bring home plenty of points tomorrow. Clearly the McLarens have great pace both on a single lap and over a longer run.
“We must remain focused and plan how to execute the race down to the smallest detail as tomorrow’s Sprint will provide useful information for Sunday’s Grand Prix.”
Lewis Hamilton on X:
Friday 21 March 2025 12:15YUP pic.twitter.com/1KCKPforBG
— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) March 21, 2025
Kimi Antonelli on P7:
Friday 21 March 2025 11:10 , Kieran Jackson“On softs, I really struggled, grip was poor. The tyres were too cold, struggled through the whole lap. A better qualifying than Melbourne, we’ll see what we can do tomorrow.
“On medium, was feeling really good.”
George Russell after qualifying P5:
Friday 21 March 2025 10:54 , Kieran Jackson“Pretty happy with the lap in Q3, well done to Lewis to get pole, that’s a great lap.
“P5 is where we are today. We always know it’s tricky with the tyres. Today we did OK.
“It was a surprise with McLaren. We’ve got a shot in the sprint, could be an interesting race.”
Liam Lawson after qualifying P20...
Friday 21 March 2025 10:25 , Kieran Jackson“I struggled to get the temperatures down, started too hot - it’s frustrating.
“It’s really a shame, we started OK. It’s a shame to be out. We should be a lot further up.”
What are the start times this weekend in China?
Friday 21 March 2025 10:13 , Kieran JacksonAll times GMT
Saturday 22 March
- Sprint race: 3am
- Qualifying: 7am
Sunday 23 March
- Race: 7am
Oscar Piastri in P3!
Friday 21 March 2025 09:38 , Kieran Jackson“Quick at the wrong points, SQ1 and SQ2 felt good - we tried something a bit different but I’m not sure was the best thing in the end, the pace in the car is still very strong - we can fight tomorrow.”
Lewis Hamilton on first Ferrari pole:
Friday 21 March 2025 09:25 , Kieran Jackson“I’m a bit gobsmacked and taken aback by it. Didn’t know when we’d get to this position.
“After last weekend, a difficult start to the week. Wanted to go into the weekend with aggression, I had a better feeling in the car - can’t believe we’re at the front!
“I’ve always gone well at this track, maybe it’s the Chinese fans! Definitely wasn’t easy with the tyres, there’s more performance to find for sure.”
San Diego = P1!
Friday 21 March 2025 09:12 , Kieran JacksonLewis Hamilton’s reaction to pole!
Lewis Hamilton's reaction to his pole position in the Sprint Qualifying!#F1#F1Sprint#ChineseGPpic.twitter.com/Mob3r6PaiA
— Extreme Cars (@extremecars__) March 21, 2025
TOP-10 IN SPRINT QUALIFYING:
Friday 21 March 2025 09:00 , Kieran Jackson1. Lewis Hamilton
2. Max Verstappen
3. Oscar Piastri
4. Charles Leclerc
5. George Russell
6. Lando Norris
7. Kimi Antonelli
8. Yuki Tsunoda
9. Alex Albon
10. Lance Stroll
Lando Norris went wide at penultimate turn!
Friday 21 March 2025 08:40 , Kieran JacksonNorris looked good for pole - but he went wide off-track at the end of the back straight!
So... just P6 for the championship leader!
Lewis Hamilton - lap record!
Friday 21 March 2025 08:26Incidentally, Lewis Hamilton’s pole-setting time of 1:30:849 is now a lap record around the Shanghai International Circuit!
A newly resurfaced track meant a new record was inevitable post-quali - but it’s Hamilton who’s got it!
What a morning for the 40-year-old!
Lewis Hamilton on pole:
Friday 21 March 2025 08:22 , Kieran Jackson“Big thank you to the amazing crowd today! I didn’t expect that result, so happy and so proud! The last race was a disaster for us, to come here to a track that I love - Shanghai beautiful place, the car came alive from lap one!
“I’m a bit in shock, pole in the sprint puts us in good stead for the race!”
Lewis Hamilton!
Friday 21 March 2025 08:16 , Kieran Jackson“Really! Mega job!”
Lewis Hamilton on pole for the sprint!
Friday 21 March 2025 08:16 , Kieran JacksonLewis Hamilton - welcome to the Ferrari party!
Hamilton is on pole for the sprint - by 0.018 seconds to Max Verstappen!
3-10: Piastri, Leclerc, Russell, Norris, Antonelli, Tsunoda, Albon, Stroll
Norris made an error on his final lap as he boxed! But what a moment for Hamilton in Shanghai - his first pole for Ferrari!
Lewis Hamilton goes P1!
Friday 21 March 2025 08:14 , Kieran JacksonHamilton goes fastest - but the McLarens go again!
Leclerc P3...
Oscar Piastri on provisional pole!
Friday 21 March 2025 08:12 , Kieran JacksonPiastri goes top with a 1:30:929 - five-tenths quicker than Lando Norris, who made a error in the final sector!
Russell 2nd, Norris 3rd, Antonelli 4th.
Other drivers yet to set a time... where are Ferrari then?!
4:00 to go...
SQ3 underway!
Friday 21 March 2025 08:10Here we go then - who will be on pole for the sprint?!
10 drivers involved: Norris, Piastri, Hamilton, Leclerc, Verstappen, Stroll, Tsunoda, Albon, Russell, Antonelli
8:00. All on softs. No messing about!
Carlos Sainz out!
Friday 21 March 2025 08:02 , Kieran JacksonSainz out, Albon IN!
Bottom-five and out in SQ2 (11-15): Alonso, Bearman, Sainz, Bortoleto, Hadjar
Yuki Tsunoda squeezes through! Lance Stroll also through!
Top-3: Norris, Russell, Piastri
Fernando Alonso in trouble!
Friday 21 March 2025 07:58 , Kieran JacksonCurrent bottom-five (11-15): Sainz, Stroll, Albon, Alonso, Bearman
2:00 LEFT!
George Russell:
Friday 21 March 2025 07:56 , Kieran Jackson“Tyres aren’t working, both axles.”
SQ2 underway!
Friday 21 March 2025 07:5010 minutes then for SQ2, where again we will lose the slowest five drivers!
Liam Lawson out in SQ1!
Friday 21 March 2025 07:46 , Kieran JacksonOh Liam!
Plum last for the Kiwi!
“I could not keep the tyres down,” he says. Nightmare for the Red Bull driver!
Bottom five and out in SQ1 (16-20): Doohan, Gasly, Ocon, Hulkenberg, Lawson
Hamilton P1 at the end there! Onto SQ2...
Carlos Sainz in trouble!
Friday 21 March 2025 07:42 , Kieran JacksonCurrent bottom-five (16-20): Tsunoda, Sainz, Bearman, Bortoleto, Ocon
2:00 left!
Oscar Piastri quickest so far!
Friday 21 March 2025 07:38 , Kieran JacksonPiastri fastest by half-a-second!
Alonso 2nd, Hamilton 3rd.
Current bottom-five (16-20): Sainz, Bearman, Bortoleto, Ocon, Russell
6:00 left. A reminder: they’re all on medium tyres in this session!
Sprint qualifying underway!
Friday 21 March 2025 07:32 , Kieran JacksonHere we go then with SQ1 - 12 minutes where we will lose the slowest five drivers!
This will be quickfire, with a huge queue at the end of the pit-lane ahead of the start of this session!
Sprint qualifying!
Friday 21 March 2025 07:30 , Kieran JacksonSprint qualifying will follow the same Q1-Q2-Q3 format as qualifying but the session times will be shorter than traditional qualifying:
SQ1 (medium tyres) will be 12 minutes, SQ2 (medium tyres) will be 10 minutes and SQ3 (soft tyres) will be eight minutes.
Who will be on pole for the sprint?! We’ll find out in five minutes!
SPRINT WEEKEND FORMAT
Friday 21 March 2025 07:22 , Kieran JacksonFriday: Free Practice 1; sprint qualifying (for Saturday’s sprint race)
Saturday: Sprint race (Top-eight receive points, finish order has no impact on grand prix grid); Grand Prix qualifying
Sunday: Grand Prix
How many points are on offer in the sprint race?
P1 - Eight points
P2 - Seven points
P3 - Six points
P4 - Five points
P5 - four points
P6 - three points
P7 - two points
P8 - one point
Charles Leclerc had a spin in FP1!
Friday 21 March 2025 07:15 , Kieran JacksonTesting the limits at Turn 1
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 21, 2025
Charles Leclerc spins off during FP1 😵💫#F1#ChineseGPpic.twitter.com/3E3DUsbY8F
FP1 RESULTS - Norris goes fastest
Friday 21 March 2025 07:02 , Kieran JacksonHere's how FP1 finished in Shanghai ⤵️#F1#ChineseGPpic.twitter.com/kRUy1yd48B
— Formula 1 (@F1) March 21, 2025
Ralf Schumacher urges Ferrari to discipline ‘stroppy’ Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc
Friday 21 March 2025 06:25 , Kieran JacksonLewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have come in for criticism from Ralf Schumacher, who urged Ferrari to “give them both a rap on the knuckles” for their attitudes during the Australian Grand Prix.
Both Ferrari cars struggled in the rain during Sunday’s race, with Ferrari opting to keep Hamilton out in the worsening conditions when most of the other cars pitted, and the seven-time champion subsequently lost the race lead when held up by a safety car and pitting afterwards.
The Brit eventually slipped to 10th and there was evident friction between him and his new race engineer, Riccardo Adami, with Hamilton repeatedly telling him to “leave me to it” and swearing over the radio when told of his drop down the rankings having had the chance to win on his debut for the Scuderia.
Full piece below:
Ralf Schumacher urges Ferrari to punish ‘stroppy’ Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc
Lando Norris unbothered about 'favourites' tag
Friday 21 March 2025 06:02 , Kieran Jackson"Makes no difference for me at the minute," he insisted, when asked about ‘favourites’ tag.
"I'm not thinking about it. I don't really care about it. It shouldn't change anything I do, it shouldn't change what the team do. I had one good weekend. People need to calm down a little bit!
"No, I stay focused and I try and do the same here this weekend. But yeah, I probably won't even think of the championship until at least halfway through the year "
Lewis Hamilton given brutal dose of Ferrari F1 reality – as full extent of radio messages revealed
Friday 21 March 2025 05:02 , Kieran JacksonThere’s nothing like racing agony, the reality of a new dawn compared to the high-octane hullaballoo, to wipe out a two-month period of euphoric bliss. Lewis Hamilton arrived in Melbournevisibly joyous ahead of the opening chapter of his Ferrari story.
Three days on, F1’s joint-most successful driver will now be under no illusions regarding the scale of the voyage ahead.
Report from last race in Australia:
Heartwarming moment sees Lewis Hamilton’s dad console F1 rookie after debut crash
Friday 21 March 2025 04:02 , Kieran JacksonA touching moment from the last race in Australia!
Lewis Hamilton’s dad Anthony consoled Isack Hadjar in a heartwarming moment in the paddock after the rookie crashed out in a disastrous start to his F1 career.
Torrential rain in Melbourne on Sunday meant very wet conditions for the drivers by the time pole-sitter Lando Norris led the cars round for the formation lap at Albert Park.
Yet French driver Hadjar, 20, who was starting 11th on the grid for Racing Bulls, spun randomly at turn one, with his car propelled into the wall.
Full piece below:
Former Top Gear presenters lead tributes to Formula One ‘legend’ Eddie Jordan
Friday 21 March 2025 03:02 , Kieran JacksonFormer Top Gear presenters have led the tributes to Eddie Jordan after his death at the age of 76.
Rory Reid described his former co-star as a “legend” while Chris Harris said the former Formula One team owner was a “pure force of nature”.
TV pundit and entrepreneur Jordan, who disclosed in December that he had been diagnosed with cancer, appeared on the BBC motoring show between 2016 and 2018.
Full piece below:
Former Top Gear presenters lead tributes to Formula One ‘legend’ Eddie Jordan
SPRINT RACE - FULL STARTING GRID
Friday 21 March 2025 16:32 , Kieran Jackson1. Lewis Hamilton
2. Max Verstappen
3. Oscar Piastri
4. Charles Leclerc
5. George Russell
6. Lando Norris
7. Kimi Antonelli
8. Yuki Tsunoda
9. Alex Albon
10. Lance Stroll
11. Fernando Alonso
12. Ollie Bearman
13. Carlos Sainz
14. Gabriel Bortoleto
15. Isack Hadjar
16. Jack Doohan
17. Pierre Gasly
18. Esteban Ocon
19. Nico Hulkenberg
20. Ollie Bearman
Jake Humphrey's tribute to Eddie Jordan:
Thursday 20 March 2025 23:14 , Kieran JacksonJake Humphrey, a friend and colleague of Eddie Jordan, told a story of the former Formula 1 team owner on BBC Radio 5 Live.
He said: "We will never see the likes of Eddie Jordan ever again. I remember him telling me a story once, this is in the days before everything was televised, he had two sponsors.
“He needed the money from both the sponsors to keep the team going so he put one sponsor on one side of the track, one sponsor on the other. Neither of them saw the full car, he put one sponsor on one side and the other on the other.
“So as the car comes down the straight he said 'look at that car covered in your branding. He was running between the two sponsors, neither of them aware there was another sponsor on the other side. Just to get through.”
George Russell on McLaren's car this year:
Thursday 20 March 2025 21:30 , Kieran JacksonRussell said of McLaren before this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix: "Their car should win every race but I don't think they will win every race this year. Let's see.
"The gap they have this year on everybody is bigger than Red Bull has ever had.
“But when Max was in that [2023] car he was pretty reliable every single lap he did, every single run in Q3, throughout qualifying, never really a question."
SPRINT WEEKEND FORMAT
Thursday 20 March 2025 21:10Friday: Free Practice 1; sprint qualifying (for Saturday’s sprint race)
Saturday: Sprint race (Top-eight receive points, finish order has no impact on grand prix grid); Grand Prix qualifying
Sunday: Grand Prix
How many points are on offer in the sprint race?
P1 - Eight points
P2 - Seven points
P3 - Six points
P4 - Five points
P5 - four points
P6 - three points
P7 - two points
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Topics
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Lewis Hamilton lands first win for Ferrari in Chinese F1 Grand Prix sprint race
Seven-time world champion opens account with Formula One team Oscar Piastri finishes second, Max Verstappen third in 100km race Lewis Hamilton celebrated his first Formula One win for Ferrari ...The Guardian - 3h -
Lewis Hamilton takes first Ferrari F1 pole for Chinese GP sprint race
British driver to start alongside Verstappen on front row Lando Norris in sixth after mistakes during qualifying Lewis Hamilton admitted it was a shock to claim pole position, his first for ...The Guardian - 23h -
Lewis Hamilton wins Chinese F1 sprint race for his first Ferrari victory
Lewis Hamilton has won his first race for Ferrari, securing Saturday’s Sprint victory from pole position following an early duel Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen at the Chinese Formula 1 Grand ...Yahoo Sports - 4h -
Lewis Hamilton wins Chinese F1 sprint race for his first Ferrari victory
Lewis Hamilton has won his first race for Ferrari, securing Saturday’s Sprint victory from pole position following an early duel Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen at the Chinese Formula 1 Grand PrixABC News - 4h -
Hamilton wins China GP sprint for 1st Ferrari win
Lewis Hamilton took his first win as a Ferrari driver after securing a lights-to-flag victory in the sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix.ESPN - 2h -
Lewis Hamilton claims historic first F1 win for Ferrari in Chinese GP sprint race
The 40-year-old won for the first time in over six months as he held off Max Verstappen’s chargeYahoo Sports - 3h -
‘Gobsmacked’ Lewis Hamilton takes brilliant Chinese GP sprint pole
Lewis Hamilton said he was “gobsmacked” after taking a shock pole for Saturday’s sprint race in China, one week after his desperately disappointing Ferrari debut in Melbourne.Yahoo Sports - 20h -
Lewis Hamilton wins Chinese GP sprint and hits out at ‘yapping’ critics
Lewis Hamilton got his Ferrari career up and running with a solid victory in the sprint race in China – before hitting out at his “yapping” critics.Yahoo Sports - 3h -
Lewis Hamilton wins sprint pole position in China days after a disappointing F1 debut for Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton has surprised the crowd and himself by securing his first sprint pole position for Ferrari in the final moments of qualifying at the Chinese Formula 1 Grand PrixABC News - 21h
More from Yahoo Sports
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Groundbreaking but controversial - new IOC president Coventry
Kirsty Coventry will become the 10th International Olympic Committee president - but why is she both a groundbreaking and controversial choice?Yahoo Sports - 36m -
Jude Bellingham is England’s talisman and Thomas Tuchel knows it
Thomas Tuchel’s England reign got off to a positive start with a straight-forward 2-0 win over Albania at Wembley, secured thanks to goals from Myles Lewis-Skelly and Harry Kane.Yahoo Sports - 38m -
‘60 hours of hell’: hardship is the only way forward at the Barkley Marathons
More crucible than race, the Barkley Marathons in the hostile backwoods of Tennessee remains the world’s toughest footrace, where change, adaptation and the struggle to survive play outYahoo Sports - 38m -
Video – Inter Milan Push Hype Video To Tickle Fans Imagination Over Upcoming Argentina Star Striker Documentary: “Record Not An End, But Starting Point”
Lautaro Martinez has etched his name in Inter Milan folklore.El Toro has been phenomenal since joining the Nerazzurri from Racing Club in the summer of 2018.Indeed, in the past seven years, he has ...Yahoo Sports - 39m -
Ireland aim to build 'green wave' over Six Nations
After taking significant steps forward over the past 12 months, Ireland's scrum-half Emily Lane wants to see the side's "green wave" gain more momentum through the Women's Six Nations and beyond.Yahoo Sports - 39m
More in Sports
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Groundbreaking but controversial - new IOC president Coventry
Kirsty Coventry will become the 10th International Olympic Committee president - but why is she both a groundbreaking and controversial choice?Yahoo Sports - 36m -
Jude Bellingham is England’s talisman and Thomas Tuchel knows it
Thomas Tuchel’s England reign got off to a positive start with a straight-forward 2-0 win over Albania at Wembley, secured thanks to goals from Myles Lewis-Skelly and Harry Kane.Yahoo Sports - 38m -
‘60 hours of hell’: hardship is the only way forward at the Barkley Marathons
More crucible than race, the Barkley Marathons in the hostile backwoods of Tennessee remains the world’s toughest footrace, where change, adaptation and the struggle to survive play outYahoo Sports - 38m -
Video – Inter Milan Push Hype Video To Tickle Fans Imagination Over Upcoming Argentina Star Striker Documentary: “Record Not An End, But Starting Point”
Lautaro Martinez has etched his name in Inter Milan folklore.El Toro has been phenomenal since joining the Nerazzurri from Racing Club in the summer of 2018.Indeed, in the past seven years, he has ...Yahoo Sports - 39m -
Ireland aim to build 'green wave' over Six Nations
After taking significant steps forward over the past 12 months, Ireland's scrum-half Emily Lane wants to see the side's "green wave" gain more momentum through the Women's Six Nations and beyond.Yahoo Sports - 39m