Starting from fourth on the grid, Verstappen navigated the 19-lap sprint at the Shanghai International Circuit with finesse, earning eight valuable points for the win.Reflecting on the race, Verstappen described the initial laps as hectic, attributing the challenge to changing wind conditions, reported AFP. However, once the team resolved issues with the battery, Verstappen felt confident in his performance.
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Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz secured fourth and fifth place after engaging in an intense battle for position with Perez and Fernando Alonso, who unfortunately had to retire due to a puncture on lap 18.
Despite starting from pole position, Lando Norris of McLaren finished sixth, while teammate Oscar Piastri trailed closely behind in seventh. George Russell rounded out the points scorers in eighth place.
Hamilton expressed his delight with his performance, considering it his best result in a long time. He acknowledged the challenge posed by the Red Bulls but remained optimistic about the upcoming race.
The Chinese Grand Prix sprint race marked the first of six sprints on the Formula One calendar for 2024, introducing a new weekend format. Sprint qualifying, previously held on Saturday mornings, now takes place on Fridays, allowing teams to adjust their car setups for the main race qualifying session on Saturdays.
Hamilton started strongly, quickly seizing the lead from Norris, who ran wide on the opening lap. Despite initial challenges, Verstappen surged ahead, overtaking Hamilton to claim victory.
The return of the Chinese Grand Prix after a hiatus since 2019 drew massive crowds, particularly to witness local hero Zhou Guanyu’s debut on his home circuit. Although Zhou narrowly missed out on scoring points, fans were thrilled by his performance throughout the weekend.
Overall, the Chinese Grand Prix sprint race provided a thrilling start to the Formula One season, setting the stage for an exciting year ahead.