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Max Verstappen Triumphs in Canada as Red Bull Bounces Back: 2024 Canadian Grand Prix Review

Verstappen secures a crucial win for Red Bull as Norris impresses for McLaren and Mercedes celebrates a podium with Russell, while Ferrari faces a double DNF setback.

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Max Verstappen Triumphs in Canada as Red Bull Bounces Back: 2024 Canadian Grand Prix Review

The 2024 Canadian Grand Prix delivered a thrilling spectacle filled with unexpected twists and standout performances. In a weekend marked by unpredictable weather and high stakes, Red Bull sought redemption after a challenging outing in Monaco. Max Verstappen secured a commanding victory for Red Bull. McLaren’s Lando Norris came in second after leading the race briefly. Mercedes took home their first trophy of the season as George Russell came in third. However, Ferrari faced a tough weekend, with both cars failing to finish the race.


Free Practice
Mercedes-powered cars led all three practice sessions this weekend, suggesting Red Bull was on the back foot.

Max Verstappen Triumphs in Canada as Red Bull Bounces Back: 2024 Canadian Grand Prix Review
Photo credits: Formula 1

Free Practice 1
There was heavy rain before the start of the first practice session, causing a delay in the opening of the pit exit as there was a lot of standing water on the newly resurfaced track. Hamilton was the first driver to explore the track on the green walled intermediate tyres almost halfway into the session.

A short while later, Sauber driver Zhou Guanyu aquaplaned out of turn 4 and collided with the wall, bringing out the red flag. For this session, the number 31 Alpine was sporting 61 as Jack Doohan replaced Esteban Ocon for the first of the year’s two mandatory FP1 rookie sessions. With 5 minutes to go in the session, drivers put on some slick tyres only to find out that the track wasn’t dry enough for the dry tyres. Multiple drivers including Verstappen, Leclerc, and Ricciardo went off the track attempting to find the limits. Mclaren’s Lando Norris set the fastest time of the session of 1:24:435 on the slick tyres while Carlos Sainz set the fastest lap on the intermediate tyres which was 3 seconds off the pace of Norris.

Max Verstappen Triumphs in Canada as Red Bull Bounces Back: 2024 Canadian Grand Prix Review
Photo: Formula 1


Free Practice 2
All teams were keen on getting some dry running after a wet FP1, except Ferrari, who sent Leclerc out on intermediates even before the rain hit the track with around 20 minutes to go. The highlights of the session included Alex Albon narrowly avoiding colliding into the ‘Wall of Champions’ and Leclerc taking his Ferrari for a spin in the turn 10 hairpin. The fastest lap of the session was set by last year’s podium finisher Fernando Alonso with a time of 1:15:180 on the soft tyres.


Free Practice 3
The final practice was the first completely dry session of the weekend, resulting in the teams making up for the lost dry running in the first two sessions. The session was briefly halted by the red flag brought out by Zhou Ghuanyu who crashed for the second time this weekend, this time out of turn 2, into the pit exit. A driver who just avoided an incident was Charles Leclerc who corrected a slide out of the final chicane. Verstappen and Albon were not so lucky as they both gave a tap to the ‘Wall of Champions’. Seven-time Canadian GP winner Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time of the session at 1:12:549.

Max Verstappen Triumphs in Canada as Red Bull Bounces Back: 2024 Canadian Grand Prix Review
Verstappen brushes the ‘Wall of Champions’. Photo: Formula 1


Qualifying
Qualifying was probably the most anticipated session of the weekend as the pecking order was not exactly clear after the 3 practice sessions.

Q1 began under dry conditions, but rain was expected sometime in Q2. Defending champion Max Verstappen set the fastest time in Q1 while his teammate Sergio Perez, whose 2-year contract extension with Red Bull was announced earlier that week was P16 and eliminated in Q1 for the second race running. Others eliminated in Q1 included both the Saubers, Hulkenberg, and Ocon, while Sargeant advanced into Q2.

The surprise eliminations in Q2 included both the Ferraris with Leclerc in 11th and Sainz, one worse in 12th. There were some spots of rain in Q2 and Q3 but nothing that would cause tyre changes.

Q3 was neck to neck with Russell and Verstappen setting the same fastest time of 1:12:000 and 3-tenths of a second covering the top seven. Russell was on pole as he set the quickest time before Verstappen who qualified second. Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and Daniel Ricciardo completed the top 5.

Max Verstappen Triumphs in Canada as Red Bull Bounces Back: 2024 Canadian Grand Prix Review
Comparison between quali laps of Russell and Verstappen. (Image credits: Formula 1)


The Race
Everybody started the race on the intermediate tyres except both the Haas cars of Magnussen and Hulkenberg who chose the full wets. The Saubers started from the pitlane as they made setup changes after qualifying.

The entire grid made a tentative start owing to the wet conditions with the top four maintaining their positions and Hamilton and Alonso making up a place each. The first lap saw only one incident as Perez made contact with the Alpine of Pierre Gasly, which was deemed as a racing incident by race control, and no penalties were awarded.

Max Verstappen Triumphs in Canada as Red Bull Bounces Back: 2024 Canadian Grand Prix Review
Russell leads Verstappen at the start (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool)

The initial conditions proved to be conducive to the extreme wet tyres. Kevin Magnussen made up 11 positions in the first seven laps and his teammate Nico Hulkenberg made up 9 places, but as the track began to dry out the wet tyres began to fall off due to overheating and both the teammates began conceding places. On lap 8, K Mag made a pitstop for intermediate tyres, but a slow pitstop meant all the progress he made earlier became redundant.

In the full wet condition at the start of the race, Russell and Verstappen were pulling away from the Mclarens of Norris and Piastri, but as the track started drying, the Mclarens found some pace and Norris, with DRS enabled, made moves on the Russell and Verstappen, inheriting the lead of the race. Russell also lost out to Verstappen on the 21st lap.

On the 25th lap, Sargeant spun his Williams and crashed into the wall, bringing out the safety car. Verstappen and Russell pitted on lap 26 for new inters and Norris had to go around one more time before pitting as he had crossed the pit entry by the time the Safety Car was deployed. In this case, the undercut worked and Norris narrowly lost the lead of the race to Verstappen, rejoining the race in P3 behind Russell.

Verstappen managed to keep the lead of the race on the safety car restart but further down the field, Albon pulled off a spectacular double overtake for P9 on Ricciardo and Ocon in the span of a single chicane.

Leclerc had to retire the car on lap 34 as a result of some power unit issues he had been having since the start of the race. As the track dried out, the leaders were the last three cars to make the switch to the slick tyres. They made their stops on lap 45 and 46 with Verstappen maintaining the lead of the race. On lap 53 out of 70, Perez had to retire with a broken rear wing after he crashed on his own. The next lap saw two more retirements as Sainz spun and took out an unfortunate Albon with him, bringing out the safety car. Multiple cars pitted under the safety car.

The last laps of the race saw some hard racing from Piastri, Russell, and Hamilton with Russell and Piastri even making contact once in the final chicane. The last retirement of the race took place on the 66th lap as Tsunoda dropped it out of turn 8 while racing with Esteban Ocon. Verstappen took the chequered flag for his 60th win in F1, followed by Norris. Russell finished P3 to take the first podium of the season for Mercedes and Hamilton and Piastri rounded up the top 5. Hamilton set the fastest lap on the last lap and Norris became the Driver of the Day which is decided by fan voting.

“It was a pretty crazy race” -Verstappen.

“A lot of things were happening and we had to be on top of our calls. I think as a team we just did really well today, we remained calm, and I think we pitted at the right time. Of course, the Safety Car worked out nicely for us, but even after that I think we were managing the gaps quite well. I loved it – that was a lot of fun. Those kinds of races, you need them once in a while!” said Verstappen.

Max Verstappen Triumphs in Canada as Red Bull Bounces Back: 2024 Canadian Grand Prix Review
Point scorers from the Canadian GP. – (Image: Formula 1)
Championship Standings

Verstappen extended his championship lead at the top while Leclerc scored 0 points allowing Norris to close the gap to him.

Max Verstappen Triumphs in Canada as Red Bull Bounces Back: 2024 Canadian Grand Prix Review
Top 10 driver standings after Canadian GP – (Image: Formula 1)



Formula 1

Is it over for Liam Lawson? Red Bull Second Driver Curse’s Recent Victim

Liam Lawson is the latest victim of Red Bull’s notorious second-driver curse. Since 2019, four drivers have occupied the seat alongside Max Verstappen, all struggling to match the Dutchman’s pace.

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Liam Lawson in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit on March 20, 2025 in Shanghai, China.

Since Daniel Ricciardo’s departure in 2018, no teammate has been able to match Max Verstappen’s race pace. Is it a lack of talent? A curse? Or is Verstappen simply performing at a level no one else can reach? The latest driver to struggle in Red Bull’s high-pressure second seat is Kiwi rookie Liam Lawson. Despite his talent, Lawson has failed to meet the expectations of a Red Bull driver, reigniting the debate over why so many promising talents falter in that role. Let’s dive into the so-called ‘Red Bull second seat curse’ and the challenges that continue to hinder Verstappen’s teammates.

A Car Built for Max?

Is it over for Liam Lawson? Red Bull Second Driver Curse's Recent Victim
Max celebrates after winning the 2024 World Drivers Championship at the Las Vegas GP 2024. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool)

Red Bull is Verstappen’s team—there’s no question about it. His feedback directly influences the car’s development, shaping it around his aggressive driving style. Verstappen thrives in a car with a pointy front end and high-speed cornering capability, but his teammates have often struggled to adapt. Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, and even Sergio Perez all found themselves unable to match the Dutchman’s consistency, leading to speculation that the RB-series cars are simply too tailored to Verstappen’s needs.

Pierre Gasly (2019)

Is it over for Liam Lawson? Red Bull Second Driver Curse's Recent Victim
Max Verstappen and Pierre Gasly are seen at the Red Bull Racing Show Run 2019 in Zandvoort, The Netherlands on May 19, 2019 – Credits – Marcel van Hoorn / Red Bull Content Pool

Gasly was promoted from Toro Rosso in 2019 to replace Ricciardo, but he struggled massively while Verstappen delivered podiums. After finishing a distant seventh in the championship—193 points behind Verstappen—Gasly was demoted mid-season back to Toro Rosso.

Alex Albon (2019-2020)

Is it over for Liam Lawson? Red Bull Second Driver Curse's Recent Victim
Max Verstappen and Alexander Albon of Thailand ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Australia at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit on March 12, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Charles Coates/Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool)

Albon replaced Gasly and initially showed promise, finishing eighth in 2019. However, his sophomore season was underwhelming. While he managed two podiums, he ended the 2020 season in seventh, a massive 109 points behind Verstappen. Red Bull opted to replace him with an experienced driver outside their academy.

Sergio Perez (2021-24)

Is it over for Liam Lawson? Red Bull Second Driver Curse's Recent Victim
SUZUKA, JAPAN – APRIL 07: Race winner Max Verstappen and second-placed Sergio Perez celebrate on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Japan on April 07, 2024, in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Image/ Red Bull Content Pool)

Perez’s arrival in 2021 brought hope. Unlike his predecessors, he was an F1 veteran and not a Red Bull academy driver. Initially, he provided solid support, most notably in Verstappen’s 2021 title fight. Over three seasons, he improved his championship standings from fourth to second. But cracks began to show in 2023—his qualifying performances faltered, and his inability to back up Verstappen strategically became evident. Despite the dominant RB19, Perez finished 285 points behind Verstappen in 2024, leading Red Bull to replace him with Liam Lawson for the 2025 season.

Liam Lawson (2025)

Is it over for Liam Lawson? Red Bull Second Driver Curse's Recent Victim
Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Max Verstappen in the Paddock prior to the Sprint ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images/Red Bull Content Pool)

Lawson entered the season with high expectations but struggled from the outset. In Australia, he qualified P18 and failed to finish the race. In China, his struggles worsened, qualifying P20 for both the sprint and main race, finishing both outside the points. Meanwhile, Verstappen secured a podium in the sprint race and 18 points across the weekend, highlighting the vast performance gap between the two.

The narrative was familiar: a talented driver excelling outside of Red Bull suddenly underperforming in the second seat. Gasly has now flourished at Alpine, Albon is a key figure at Williams, and Perez had been a consistent force at Racing Point. The question remained—was it the car, the environment, or both?

A Bad Look for Red Bull

Is it over for Liam Lawson? Red Bull Second Driver Curse's Recent Victim
Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner and Team Consultant Dr Helmut Marko look on in the garage during final practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Singapore at Marina Bay Street Circuit on September 21, 2024, in Singapore. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images/ Red Bull Content Pool)

Red Bull’s ruthless approach to driver management only intensifies the pressure. The team has a history of abrupt mid-season changes, and Helmut Marko’s public criticism does little to instil confidence. Unlike Perez, who had the backing of significant sponsors, Lawson lacked any external security, making him more vulnerable to immediate replacement.

The timing of the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix only worsened the situation for Lawson. With Honda pushing for greater representation at Red Bull, Yuki Tsunoda—who had shown strong performances at VCARB—emerged as a prime candidate to take over. Marko himself praised Tsunoda, stating:

“Yuki is a different Yuki from the years before. He is in the form of his life. Obviously he changed his management. He has a different approach. He’s more mature. It took a while, but now it looks like it’s working.”

On March 27, 2025, Red Bull confirmed Lawson’s demotion to VCARB, with Tsunoda taking his place at Suzuka. This made Lawson the shortest-serving Red Bull driver in history, lasting just two races before being replaced.

While the move benefited Honda and Tsunoda, it did little to help Red Bull’s reputation. Even Verstappen himself expressed frustration over the constant driver changes. This instability raises concerns about Red Bull’s long-term strategy—if no driver can survive alongside Verstappen, what does that mean for the team’s ability to develop future stars?

For Lawson, his focus now shifts to proving himself at VCARB. While this setback could be damaging, his talent remains undeniable. If he can deliver strong performances for the rest of the season, he may yet have a future in F1.

As Red Bull’s second seat continues to claim talented drivers, one thing is clear—it’s one of the toughest jobs in motorsport. Whether due to an unforgiving car, immense pressure, or internal politics, the role remains a poisoned chalice for anyone not named Max Verstappen.

For now, the curse claims another victim in Liam Lawson. But as the silly season heats up in F1’s 75th year, the question remains: who’s next?


Desi Racing Co is dedicated to bringing the latest updates and insights from the world of motorsport. Whether it’s Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, or other racing series, we’ve got you covered! Stay connected with us for in-depth motorsport coverage. Follow us on Twitter/XInstagram, and LinkedIn to keep up with the latest motorsport news and updates.

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Formula 1

Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix 2025 Review: Drama, Disqualifications, and a Weekend Full of Twists in Shanghai

The 2025 Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit delivered a weekend of intense competition, strategic maneuvers, and unforeseen outcomes, impacting teams across the grid.

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Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix 2025 Review: Drama, Disqualifications, and a Weekend Full of Twists in Shanghai

The 2025 Chinese Grand Prix delivered a spectacle packed with drama, redemption, and heartbreak. The Shanghai International Circuit, returning to the F1 calendar with renewed intensity, played host to a weekend that tested the limits of strategy, reliability, and composure. From McLaren’s historic dominance to Ferrari’s crushing disqualification, every corner of the paddock had a story. The rain never arrived, but chaos did — in pit lanes, brake systems, and the stewards’ office. With eight teams scoring points and key contenders faltering under scrutiny, the Chinese Grand Prix reminded the world just how brutal and beautiful Formula 1 can be.

Papaya Perfection: McLaren’s Impeccable Execution

McLaren stole the spotlight with a commanding 1-2 finish, their first in China since 2011 and 50th in team history. Oscar Piastri was clinical from pole, managing a defensive launch into Turn 1 before stretching a lead that only briefly slipped during pit cycles. Despite late-race pressure, he stayed cool.

“It’s been an incredible weekend; the car has been mega the whole time… we’ve secured this result through hard work.”

Teammate Lando Norris fought through a mid-race traffic jam and a heart-stopping late brake issue but brought the car home for P2. “A tough race with tyre management,” Norris admitted, “but the team executed it well.”

Team Principal Andrea Stella praised both drivers: “We were managing an issue towards the end which added some tension, but Lando and the team handled it brilliantly.”

Silver Linings at Mercedes: Russell Leads, Antonelli Learns

George Russell flew the flag for Mercedes, delivering a smooth and strategic drive to finish third — his second podium in as many races. “P3 was the maximum for us today,” he said. “The McLarens were just a little bit too quick.” Russell executed a clever undercut to leapfrog Norris momentarily but ultimately lacked the pace to maintain it.

Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix 2025 Review: Drama, Disqualifications, and a Weekend Full of Twists in Shanghai

Russel P3 (Credits: mercedesamgf1)

Rookie teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli wasn’t as lucky. Floor damage from lap one debris left him fighting the car all race. “I struggled with the rear… it definitely hindered my pace,” he said after finishing eighth. Still, both cars scored points, and Mercedes left Shanghai satisfied with steady momentum.

Red Bull’s Recovery: Verstappen Climbs, Lawson Slips

Max Verstappen endured a sluggish start, dropping places early but clawed back to P4 by race’s end — showing once again his ability to maximize difficult days. Red Bull went aggressive with tyre strategy, and while Verstappen managed his mediums and hards well, he never had the pace to challenge McLaren or Mercedes.

Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix 2025 Review: Drama, Disqualifications, and a Weekend Full of Twists in Shanghai

“The beginning, it was not easy,” said Verstappen (Credits: Formula1)

Teammate Liam Lawson, however, struggled. A miscalculated setup and balance issues saw him finish outside the points in 12th. The team acknowledged they were “surprised by the lack of grip” and will be looking to regroup quickly ahead of Japan.

Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix 2025 Review: Drama, Disqualifications, and a Weekend Full of Twists in Shanghai

There’s speculation in the paddock about Tsunoda swapping teams with Lawson as early as the Japanese Grand Prix. (Credits:formula1)

Ferrari’s Fall: From Points to Penalty

Ferrari’s day unravelled hours after the checkered flag. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were disqualified post-race — Leclerc for an underweight car, and Hamilton for excessive plank wear. On track, both had been competitive, with Leclerc in podium contention and Hamilton salvaging points after a tough qualifying. But the stewards’ rulings erased all gains. “It’s gutting,” a Ferrari spokesperson said. “These weren’t performance-enhancing issues, but the rules are the rules.”

The double DQ cost Ferrari a potential double top-six finish and sent shockwaves through the paddock. Meanwhile, the disqualification handed unexpected points to Haas, Williams, and others.

Midfield Madness: Haas, Williams and Alpine Seize the Shake-Up

Haas turned fortune into results. Esteban Ocon, cool and consistent, finished fifth, while rookie Oliver Bearman brought it home in P8 after Hamilton and Leclerc’s DQs. “A fantastic result for the whole team,” said Haas boss Ayao Komatsu.

Williams had a mixed but encouraging weekend. Albon recovered from a poor start, led briefly during a long first stint, and finished 7th on his birthday after late-race gains and post-race disqualifications. Sainz continued to struggle with pace but his first points for Williams, finishing 10th after disqualifications. Albon praised the team’s progress, saying the points showed “valuable” improvement. Team boss James Vowles credited strong teamwork and backed Sainz to bounce back.

Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix 2025 Review: Drama, Disqualifications, and a Weekend Full of Twists in Shanghai
Alex Albon celebrates his birthday at the Chinese Grand Prix. – Photo – Williams Racing

Alpine had a mixed day: Pierre Gasly was disqualified like Leclerc for an underweight car, while Jack Doohan saw points finish slip away due to a five-second penalty for forcing another car off track. The FIA cited “potentially dangerous driving,” bringing Doohan’s total to 5 points — just 7 shy of a race ban. “We’ll regroup, but we’re clearly leaving points on the table,” Alpine admitted. Jack Doohan’s tough weekend in Shanghai got worse post-race, as he was handed 4 penalty points on his super licence.

Points, Pitfalls, and Pain for Aston, Bulls & Sauber

Aston Martin had a bittersweet Sunday. Fernando Alonso was the race’s only retirement, sidelined early by overheating rear brakes. Lance Stroll, however, ran long on hards and was rewarded post-race with P9 after disqualifications. “We just aren’t quick enough,” Stroll admitted, despite battling hard.

Racing Bulls suffered another strategic misfire. Their two-stop gamble backfired in cooler conditions, dropping both cars out of the points. Isack Hadjar finished a close P11, narrowly missing his first F1 point. Yuki Tsunoda’s late front wing failure sealed a forgettable day. “Frustrating,” said Team Principal Laurent Mekies, “but the pace is there.”

Kick Sauber endured a rough opening lap that derailed their race. Nico Hülkenberg picked up floor damage after a wide moment in Turn 3, while rookie Gabriel Bortoleto spun early and spent the race learning the limits. Both cars finished, but out of the points. “Encouraging final stint pace,” said Beat Zehnder, “but still work to do.”

2025 Chinese Grand Prix – 5 Key Highlights

  1. Oscar Piastri led McLaren to a dominant 1-2 finish ahead of Lando Norris, marking the team’s 50th one-two and first in China since 2011.
  2. Charles Leclerc, Lewis Hamilton, and Pierre Gasly were disqualified post-race, reshuffling the final results and handing unexpected points to several midfield teams.
  3. George Russell secured P3 for Mercedes, while Max Verstappen recovered from a poor start to finish fourth; Liam Lawson finished outside the points.
  4. Esteban Ocon scored a strong P5 for Haas, Albon finished P7 on his birthday for Williams, and Carlos Sainz took his first points with the team.
  5. Alonso retired early due to brake failure, Stroll was promoted to P9, Racing Bulls’ two-stop strategy backfired again, and both Kick Sauber cars finished outside the points after early setbacks.

Next Race

All eyes now turn to Suzuka for the Japanese Grand Prix, where teams will be looking to build momentum or bounce back after Shanghai’s shake-up. The fast, flowing corners of this iconic track demand precision and balance — a true driver’s circuit that often separates the contenders from the midfield. For McLaren, it’s a chance to prove their pace is no fluke. Red Bull and Ferrari will be eager to rebound, especially amid growing speculation of a possible driver swap between Lawson and Tsunoda. With just ten days to reset, the stage is set for another high-stakes showdown in Japan.

Drivers’ Standing

Constructors’ Standings

https://twitter.com/F1/status/1903838650221097221

Desi Racing Co. brings you the latest updates and insights from Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, and more! Stay connected for in-depth motorsport analysis—follow us on Twitter/XInstagram, and LinkedIn for all the latest news and updates.

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Lewis Hamilton silences Rivals with a Sprint Masterclass in Shanghai 2025

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Lewis Hamilton silences Rivals with a Sprint Masterclass in Shanghai 2025

Lewis Hamilton secured first-ever victory for Scuderia Ferrari by dominating the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix Sprint Race in Shanghai. In an astonishing performance, exhibited his race brilliance, tire management mastery and defense mechanism. Starting from pole position after an incredible Sprint Shootout session, Hamilton got the perfect launch off the line and controlled the race from the front. Piastri and Verstappen were engaged in action but Hamilton remained off-limits. Hamilton commanded the circuit, finishing 6.8 seconds past the Australian.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1903304955160678860

This wasn’t just another win—it was a statement

This victory is more than just Hamilton’s first in red, it marks Ferrari’s first-ever sprint race victory since the format was introduced in 2021. The team has struggled in recent years to match McLaren and Red Bull’s dominance, but with Hamilton’s experience and determination, theres a new positive atmosphere in Maranello.

“Wow, this one feels special. To take my first win in red—man, what a feeling! The team has worked so hard, and I’m so happy to deliver for them. We’re just getting started!” – Hamilton(post Sprint)

Former team, Mercedes couldn’t stop applauding.Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff, Hamilton’s former mentor and team principle, had to acknowledge the achievement.

“Ferrari looks strong, and Lewis—well, he’s Lewis. You can never count him out.” – Toto Wolff(post Sprint)

Lewis Hamilton
(credits: Scuderia Ferrari on X/Twitter)

Lap-by-Lap breakdown

Lap 1: A Flawless Start

Lewis Hamilton set afloat the line beautifully, defending Piastri into Turn 1. The reigning World Champion starting 2rd was forced to keep his guards against George Russel in a Mercedes, effortlessly allowing Hamilton to detach from the front row. Slowly creating a gap of 1 second by lap 3.

Lap 3 – 10: Tyre Management, Benching rivals and Controlling Pace

With clear air, Lewis Hamilton set out keeping his lead by 1-2 seconds each lap. Verstappen inching by Hamilton supported by DRS and Slip Stream, lost ground as tyres were overheated and was requested by Gianpiero Lambiase, Verstappen’s race engineer to retreat. Hamilton began stretching his advantage, setting fastest lap after fastest lap. Meanwhile, a fierce battle between Verstappen and Russell gave Ferrari some breathing room.

Lewis Hamilton silences Rivals with a Sprint Masterclass in Shanghai 2025
(credits: Oracle Redbull Racing on X/Twitter
Lap 11 – 15: Red Bull Threat Fades, Piastri Vs Max

Lewis Hamilton perfectly managed his tires, while Piastri’s mediums began to overheat. Verstappen faced difficulty in managing his rear tyres. However, Hamilton looked unstoppable out there. Ferrari advised Hamilton to push for two laps to break Piastri’s DRS threat thoroughly.He responded with a flaming sector 2, pulling the gap to 3.8 seconds. Verstappen further fell back fighting his way past piastri but failed to make up.

Lap 16 – 18: Piastri hold tight

Verstappen dropped to 6.5 seconds behind Hamilton, unfortunately ruling him out of the battle for the win. Piastri, however, was still pushing hard, refusing to give up on the chance of a late attack. Piastri, losing grip, was instructed by McLaren to settle for P2 and avoid Verstappen.

Lap 19: One Last Push

As the checkered flag waved, Hamilton crossed the line 6.8 seconds clear, punching the air in celebration. A new chapter in Ferrari’s history had begun.

Comeback of a Legend

When Hamilton announced his shock move to Ferrari for the 2025 season, the world watched with anticipation. With Red Bull still a threat and McLaren looking strong, the Chinese GP will be another battle. But if today’s Sprint Race was any indication, Hamilton and Ferrari are back in the fight.

Lewis Hamilton silences Rivals with a Sprint Masterclass in Shanghai 2025

Lewis Hamilton’s first Ferrari win wasn’t just a victory—it was a declaration. After years of Red Bull dominance, the Tifosi have a new hero in red.While the Sprint Race doesn’t impact the Grand Prix grid, it provides valuable points—and an even more valuable psychological edge.

Forza Ferrari. Forza Lewis. The fight is on!

Desi Racing Co. brings you the latest updates and insights from Formula 1, Formula 2, WEC, MotoGP, Indian motorsports, and more! Stay connected for in-depth motorsport analysis—follow us on Twitter/XInstagram, and LinkedIn for all the latest news and updates.

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