Hamilton's first success with Ferrari: pole position in qualifying for the sprint race in China

Shanghai, March 21, 2025 – First success with the Ferrari for the multiple world champion Lewis Hamilton who with the Red number 44 obtained the pole position in sprint race qualifying of the Chinese GP. 

In the first Sprint Qualifying of the season at the Chinese Grand Prix, the English driver clocked a 1'30"849 and track record for the British seven-time world champion, who beats the Dutch and reigning world champion by 0"018 Max Verstappen (Red Bull). Third Oscar Piastri (McLaren) at 0"080, Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) is fourth at 0"208. Lando Norris (McLaren) does not go beyond sixth place at 0"544. In the middle George Russell (Mercedes). Completing the top ten Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls), Alexander Albon (Williams) and Lance Stroll.

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"Honestly, I'm in shock. Obviously it's not pole for the Grand Prix, but it's a good step forward. Being there, in front of the sign number 1 with a red car, that's amazing".

"I did not expect this result, but I'm very happy and proud of today. Melbourne was a disaster and we knew we hadn't extracted all the potential from the car. We made some adjustments, but I didn't expect pole". These are the words of Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) after the pole position in the Sprint Qualifying of the Chinese Grand Prix, the second round of the 1 F2025 World Championship. "I gradually improved during qualifying. Tomorrow we will do the first real race simulation, McLaren and Verstappen seem really fast", concludes the British, seven-time World Champion.

"I struggled from the start of qualifying. I felt like a step back from Hamilton. I had difficulties in the approach to turns 1, 2 and 3, but tomorrow we will try to do a good race together. I am not in the position I would like, but fourth place is good overall. Tomorrow it will not be easy to manage the tyres in the Sprint Race". So said the Monegasque Charles Leclerc after fourth place in Sprint Qualifying at the Chinese Grand Prix with Ferrari.

"We certainly did better than last week, but it's not easy. analyze the data between sessions. There will be a lot of work to do. In Melbourne we struggled a lot starting from qualifying and today's pole will give a lot of energy to the team. Hamilton was also in front in Q1, it was a positive day". These are the words of Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari Team Principal, following Lewis Hamilton's pole position in the first Sprint Qualifying of the season at the Chinese Grand Prix.