Red Bull’s Dutch Driver Makes Up For a Slippery Qualifying Session With a Sprint Race Win
Max Verstappen showcased his ability on the track as he clinched victory in the sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix, marking the first sprint race of the Formula 1 season with an emphatic win. After a disappointing qualifying session, the 26-year-old Dutchman, representing Red Bull Racing, crossed the finish line a staggering 13.043 seconds ahead of Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in the 19-lap contest held at the Shanghai International Circuit.
The sprint race unfolded with intensity from the get-go, as polesitter Lando Norris faltered at the start as he tried to defend against Hamilton. This allowed his fellow countryman to seize the opportunity and challenge him for position. Despite Norris’s valiant efforts, Hamilton’s strategic maneuvering at Turn 3 saw the McLaren driver lose ground off track, ultimately relegating him to seventh place as returned to the pack.
Verstappen, starting from fourth on the grid, encountered initial difficulties but swiftly navigated his way through the field, overtaking Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso to set his sights on Hamilton. With a perfectly executed move on the ninth lap, Verstappen surged past Hamilton to claim the lead, a position he kept until the checkered flag.
Battles Elsewhere
While Hamilton maintained a solid grip on second place, the battle for third raged on, with Red Bull’s Sergio Perez emerging triumphant with an opportunistic double overtake after a pulsating tussle with Alonso and Carlos Sainz of Ferrari. Alonso’s hopes of a podium finish were dashed after a puncture forced him to retire from the race following contact with Sainz, while Perez capitalized on the ensuing chaos to secure the final spot on the podium.
The Ferrari duo later battled it out for the fourth position. Both Ferrari cars made tire contact which caused Sainz to slide out wide. Charles Leclerc later questioned what the two of them were trying to accomplish by fighting so hard against each other over team radio.
“Let’s speak – he’s fighting [me] more than others.”
The Final Spots
In the end, Ferrari’s Leclerc and Sainz crossed the line in fourth and fifth respectively, with McLaren’s Norris recovering to sixth after his early setback. Norris’s teammate, Oscar Piastri, showcased a commendable performance to finish seventh, while Mercedes’ George Russell clinched the final point in eighth place.
View the full sprint race results here.
With the first sprint race of the season now in the books, up next is qualifying for the main race on Sunday.
