It wasn’t as disappointing as in Australia, but once again in Shanghai, Ferrari lost its edge in the battle for pole position at the Chinese GP. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were stuck on the third row after an impressive sprint race, leading to speculation that the Scuderia might have made another setup change.

Shanghai qualifying favored Oscar Piastri and George Russell, who maximized their final attempts to secure a well-earned front row. Meanwhile, Ferrari—despite securing sprint pole—ended up further down the grid. Compared to the sprint qualifying session, the SF-25 lost performance, failing to take the extra step needed to challenge McLaren for pole.

Charles Leclerc’s admission over team radio
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc finished Q3 in fifth and sixth place, respectively. While the Ferrari appeared to have improved in drivability, it seemed to have lost some outright performance—at least on Charles Leclerc’s side of the garage.

“We lost a bit of competitiveness in qualifying today,” Charles Leclerc admitted over the team radio at the end of Q3. Despite that, he felt more comfortable with the car: “It’s not too bad from my perspective, but overall, we struggled a bit more than the others.” – he pointed out.

Fred Vasseur responds: another Ferrari setup change?
After the troubled Australian GP weekend, some have suggested that Ferrari may have once again altered the SF-25’s setup before qualifying. This was a key topic in Sky Italia’s post-Q3 interview with Fred Vasseur.

The Ferrari team principal avoided giving too many details but let slip some hints. “I won’t talk about this—there would be too many comments! But it’s true, in the sprint race, tire degradation was higher than expected for everyone.”

Ferrari may have adjusted the setup after the sprint race in response to the tire wear seen over the 19-lap event. According to Fred Vasseur, tire management will be the decisive factor in the Grand Prix, rather than outright speed. “Degradation was much worse for some, less for others, but overall, it was significant. The race will be about managing tire wear rather than pure pace.”

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A bitter afternoon
After the joy of winning the sprint race in the morning, Lewis Hamilton’s afternoon in China was far less satisfying. The Ferrari driver was unable to replicate his strong performances from earlier in the weekend at the Shanghai circuit and had to settle for fifth place in qualifying, which set the grid for tomorrow’s Grand Prix.

Once again, he outperformed his teammate Charles Leclerc—something that has been a constant this weekend—but both Ferrari cars will have to start from the third row. It’s not an ideal situation, especially considering the uncertainty of tire degradation, a factor that could particularly impact cars running in traffic without clean air.

More oversteer
Speaking to Sky Sport F1 after Q3, the seven-time Formula One world champion admitted he left a couple of tenths on the table, which could have put him on the second row. He also highlighted some setup changes made to the SF-25 single-seater between the sprint and Q1.

“I could have been a couple of tenths higher, but I really struggled to find the right balance in the car this afternoon,” Lewis Hamilton explained. “What changed compared to yesterday? Everyone else improved. We made a few changes, some small adjustments to the car, but in the end, we ended up with a lot more oversteer.” – the British driver concluded at the end of the qualifying session for the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.

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It feels like déjà vu. Once again, after a promising start to the weekend, Ferrari failed to match its rivals in Chinese GP qualifying. Frederic Vasseur attempted to shed light on the reasons behind this drop in performance.

The Scuderia will start from the third row, with Lewis Hamilton in fifth and Charles Leclerc in sixth—far from what fans had hoped for after seeing the British driver dominate the sprint race during the Italian night. The SF-25 has shown better tire degradation management than its competitors, but it remains to be seen how the situation will evolve after the setup changes made between sessions.

Fred Vasseur explains the third-row start
Following Chinese GP qualifying, Frederic Vasseur discussed why Ferrari couldn’t replicate the pole position it secured on Friday in Shanghai. “We’re all very close. I think by the end of the session, everyone felt they could have done better. We struggled in Q2 but were competitive again in Q3. It’s a shame we couldn’t optimize everything. We’re in the fight, and the race will be long,” said the Ferrari Team Principal.

When asked about potential setup changes after the sprint race, Frederic Vasseur chose not to comment. “I won’t talk about it because it would only create unnecessary controversy. What’s certain is that we saw more tire degradation than expected in the sprint, and I believe the race will be decided by tire management. Pirelli’s decision to adjust tire pressures has nothing to do with it.”

“Going back to qualifying, we struggled in Q2 and couldn’t recover quickly enough in Q3. There were significant differences from one session to another, but this affected everyone. The race will be long, and we’re still in the fight,” Frederic Vasseur concluded at the end of the qualifying session for the Chinese Grand Prix, which was held earlier today at the 5.451-kilometre Shanghai International Circuit.

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Saturday’s track action has come to an end for the second race weekend of the 2025 season. While Friday’s performance suggested a tight battle for the top positions, McLaren once again asserted its dominance in qualifying. Unfortunately for Ferrari fans, the team slipped back to being the third or fourth force, failing to replicate its Friday pace. Here’s what Charles Leclerc had to say following Chinese GP qualifying.

The situation was clear. Throughout the weekend in Shanghai, from the sole free practice session onward, Lewis Hamilton appeared more competitive than his teammate. Drawing on his experience—having won the Grand Prix six times—he managed to secure his first pole for Ferrari, valid for the sprint race. During the Italian night, he also claimed victory, bringing Maranello its first “win” of 2025.

Charles Leclerc, on the other hand, struggled throughout the 5 km of the Asian circuit. His biggest losses came in the first sector, particularly through Turns 1, 2, and 3, where he and his teammate took entirely different lines. He qualified fourth in the sprint shootout and finished fifth in the sprint race, unable to regain his position from Russell.

In the Grand Prix qualifying session, his performance dropped even further. Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari, car number 16, qualified sixth behind Lewis Hamilton with a time of 1:31.021—nearly half a second off Oscar Piastri’s pole.

However, the outlook for tomorrow’s race is entirely different. As seen in the 19-lap sprint, tire degradation—especially graining—will be a crucial factor. Managing tire wear efficiently without stressing them too much in the early laps will be key.

Speaking to Sky Sport F1, Charles Leclerc commented on the situation heading into the race: “The others improved a lot over the weekend, while we didn’t as much as we should have. If I wasn’t happy with my lap yesterday, today I am a bit more because I gave everything I had and couldn’t do more.” – the Monegasque driver pointed out.

“I wasn’t expecting a miracle because I don’t like this track. We need to analyze the data since track conditions and pressures have changed, but they changed for everyone. Maybe they affected us more than others, but we need to understand why.”

Charles Leclerc was also not optimistic about the race: “We know Lewis is very strong, but we have to be careful because this isn’t a great starting position. Being in front with clean air helps a lot with tire management. I don’t think we’ll be able to match our sprint pace, but we’ll try to maximize what we can. This morning’s win was positive, but looking ahead, it’s going to be very difficult.” – the Monegasque driver concluded.

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Oscar Piastri Claims Pole Position for 2025 Chinese Grand Prix

Oscar Piastri will lead the grid at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix after securing pole position with a blistering lap of 1:30.641 at the Shanghai International Circuit. The Australian driver showcased exceptional pace throughout the session, narrowly edging out George Russell, who secured second place. Lando Norris completed the top three, ensuring a strong starting position for McLaren.

Piastri Capitalizes on Late Session Gains

The opening laps of Q3 saw Piastri, Norris, and Max Verstappen battling for the provisional pole, with the Australian initially holding the top spot. However, while Norris and Verstappen were unable to improve on their final runs, Piastri found additional pace in his last attempt, cementing his position at the front of the grid. George Russell took full advantage of his final lap, climbing to second place and pushing Norris down to third. Lewis Hamilton will start from P5, just ahead of Charles Leclerc, as Ferrari looks to bounce back from a challenging qualifying session.

Isack Hadjar delivered an outstanding performance, outqualifying both his RB teammate Yuki Tsunoda and rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Meanwhile, Alexander Albon rounded out the top ten, securing a solid starting position for Williams.

Q2: Ferrari and Antonelli Avoid Trouble as Midfield Battles Intensify

The second qualifying session threatened to put Ferrari and Antonelli at risk, but with no major improvements from the midfield challengers, both teams managed to scrape through. Esteban Ocon came agonizingly close to reaching Q3 but ultimately missed out, settling for 11th place. Nico Hülkenberg delivered Sauber’s best qualifying result of the season, securing P12.

Aston Martin endured another disappointing session, with both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll failing to progress. Meanwhile, Carlos Sainz found himself eliminated in Q2 once again, ending the session in 15th place, two-tenths behind his teammate Charles Leclerc.

Q2 Eliminations:

P11 Esteban Ocon (Alpine)

P12 Nico Hülkenberg (Sauber)

P13 Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

P14 Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

P15 Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)

Q1: Early Exits for Alpine and Rookie Contenders

The first segment of qualifying saw Liam Lawson struggle once again, finishing in P20, mirroring his Sprint Qualifying result. Alpine had a disastrous session, as Pierre Gasly made a costly mistake in the final corner, preventing him from advancing beyond Q1. Jack Doohan also had a tough outing, spinning at Turn 9 on his opening lap and failing to recover.

Gabriel Bortoleto, who had shown promise in previous rounds, was unable to outqualify Nico Hülkenberg this time, finishing 19th. Oliver Bearman also faced an early exit, ending his session in P17.

Q1 Eliminations:

P16 Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

P17 Oliver Bearman (Haas)

P18 Jack Doohan (Alpine)

P19 Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)

P20 Liam Lawson (RB)

With Piastri leading the charge and an intense midfield battle shaping up, the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix promises to be a thrilling contest. Stay tuned for all the latest updates as race day approaches.

Result Qualification – Chinese GP

#	Driver	Team	Time	Tyre
1	Oscar Piastri	McLaren	1:30.641
2	George Russell	Mercedes	1:30.723
3	Lando Norris	McLaren	1:30.793
4	Max Verstappen	Red Bull	1:30.817
5	Lewis Hamilton	Ferrari	1:30.927
6	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	1:31.021
7	Isack Hadjar	Racing Bulls	1:31.079
8	Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes	1:31.103
9	Yuki Tsunoda	Racing Bulls	1:31.638
10	Alexander Albon	Williams	1:31.706
11	Esteban Ocon	Haas	1:31.625
12	Nico Hulkenberg	Stake	1:31.632
13	Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin	1:31.688
14	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	1:31.773
15	Carlos Sainz	Williams	1:31.840
16	Pierre Gasly	Alpine	1:31.992
17	Oliver Bearman	Haas	1:32.018
18	Jack Doohan	Alpine	1:32.092
19	Gabriel Bortoleto	Stake	1:32.141
20	Liam Lawson	Red Bull	1:32.174

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Lewis Hamilton crosses the finish line first aboard the Ferrari, while Charles Leclerc finishes the Chinese Sprint race in fifth position. A dream the Briton has had since childhood: winning with the Prancing Horse. It comes true in the second round of the championship, even though not in the main race, but in the smaller 100-kilometer one. A huge satisfaction in the aftermath of the disaster broadcast from the Albert Park swimming pool, where almost nothing worked for the Maranello team.

The Sprint Race is not an easy competition. There are no pit stops, and while the need to push to the maximum prevails, tire management is equally crucial, especially on a track like the 5.451-kilometre Shanghai International Circuit, which wears out tires significantly. Lewis Hamilton delivered a masterclass in this regard, following his pole position yesterday, as his race engineer Riccardo Adami noted at the end of the Sprint event when he congratulated the Dutch driver over the team radio.

Yet, it wasn’t easy. Undoubtedly, running at the front helped, avoiding the turbulence generated by other cars. However, the tedious graining phenomenon also appeared on the left front tire of car number 44 and, for a moment in the race, caused slight concern for the former Mercedes driver. Lewis Hamilton, however, remained calm, despite Max Verstappen trying to close the gap behind him.

The seven-time Formula 1 world champion’s display of Ferrari’s strength should not be underestimated, especially considering Pirelli’s pressure adjustments. The Italian tire manufacturer was concerned that the cars’ higher-than-expected downforce levels could cause issues. The British champion showed great intelligence, building his victory through many small details.

Without a doubt, Lewis Hamilton has vast experience after nearly two decades in Formula One. On the other hand, unlike Charles Leclerc, who struggled tremendously due to an incorrect setup, failing to turn properly in Turn 13 due to an endemic lack of rotation, the Briton dominated the race without too many issues. However, before the competition, some noteworthy events unfolded.

On the starting grid, with about ten minutes to go before the race, Lewis Hamilton asked a series of questions regarding tire management. An exchange of information with his race engineer, Riccardo Adami, that was useful for optimizing tire usage. The British driver was forward-thinking, precise, and eager for information, wanting to understand where he could push or hold back in every single corner of the track.

Discussions took place before the formation lap to prepare the tires optimally for the start and later regarding the race itself, where all strategies were executed to perfection. Additionally, during the Sprint Race, guidance was provided on how to use the differential to best manage the car’s rotation. The same applied to brake system mappings and power unit settings.

On the other hand, the Monegasque driver had a much more complicated race, despite the fact that his clutch release at the start was excellent, allowing him to pull alongside Oscar Piastri and engage in a wheel-to-wheel battle up to the second sector of the track. Unfortunately, the Australian defended brilliantly and, as often happens in such situations, the third party benefitted. Indeed, George Russell’s Mercedes bided its time before taking advantage of its superior traction in Turn 13, leading onto the 1.2 kilometer straight.

The Briton exploited his lower-drag setup and, at the end of the long high-speed section, overtook the Ferrari driver. From that point on, Charles Leclerc struggled with graining and the aforementioned understeer, only managing to get close toward the race’s end in an attempt to reclaim the position. He tried everything, but George Russell consistently shut the door, defending excellently.

After the Sprint Race, teams are allowed to adjust their car’s setup. Ferrari has therefore decided to tweak the setup of car number 16 to improve Charles Leclerc’s confidence with the SF-25. A move that could turn around a weekend that has been underwhelming so far, as a qualifying session and a 300-kilometer race still remain, offering a chance to overturn the situation.

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Lewis Hamilton’s Standout Performance

The first real highlight of the Ferrari-Hamilton partnership arrived in China. While it was just a Sprint race, the way the British driver dominated from pole position has ignited the dreams of Ferrari fans around the world. However, team principal Fred Vasseur is keeping expectations in check. Speaking to Sky Sport F1 after the race, he praised Lewis Hamilton’s performance, as well as Charles Leclerc’s effort, despite the Monegasque finishing fifth after starting fourth. The French manager also quickly shifted focus to the upcoming qualifying session.

“We shouldn’t draw too many conclusions from this race,” the Frenchman cautioned. “It’s still too early. I’m not saying Lewis had an easy race, but he was in control from the start. At one point, he allowed Verstappen to close in a little, but in doing so, he also forced him to damage his tires. He had clean air throughout the race, was able to push towards the end, and finished with a seven-second gap over Oscar Piastri. The most important thing for me is that we had a strong race. Charles was also managing his pace at one stage but came back very strong at the end. Now, we move forward.”

A Crucial Qualifying Session

After securing pole position in Friday’s Sprint qualifying, Fred Vasseur was not surprised by Hamilton’s strong race pace. “When you start from pole, you have to aim for the win,” he emphasized. “You can’t start from pole and expect to finish third. The pace was good, the car was well-balanced, and that’s the key factor. If you perform well in qualifying, you should expect a good race. However, it’s also true that starting second makes things more difficult in these conditions—you’re in dirty air, you wear out the tires more, and if you can’t overtake, you struggle. Lewis managed the race well; he let Verstappen catch up at one stage, which forced him to push and damage his tires, while Lewis had some performance in reserve.”

“Is qualifying crucial? Yes,” Fred Vasseur confirmed. “It’s a bit less so for a long race because strategy gives more flexibility. But of course, we’d prefer to start from pole again tomorrow, no question about it.” The Frenchman also defended Leclerc’s performance: “Did he struggle? No. He was two-tenths behind yesterday, that’s true. But today, starting fourth or fifth means you have to worry about tire management, which prevented him from pushing in the early laps. Russell, on the other hand, pushed hard, but in the end, he was just trying to survive. Without a race simulation, it was difficult to have precise expectations or gauge how much we could push the tires from the start.” – the Ferrari team boss concluded.

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LEWIS HAMILTON BECOMES THE FIRST EVER SPRINT WINNER FOR FERRARI

pic.twitter.com/NFK7x3LHgf

— La Gazzetta Ferrari (@GazzettaFerrari) March 22, 2025

— see video above —

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Charles Leclerc caught off guard by George Russell

On Ferrari’s 19th attempt, the team finally secured a Sprint race victory, thanks to Lewis Hamilton, who in just his second weekend with the Scuderia has already claimed a Sprint pole and a Saturday race win. Charles Leclerc, meanwhile, started from fourth but lost ground, ultimately finishing in fifth place.

The Monegasque was overtaken by George Russell on the second lap: “I was conservative,” Charles Leclerc admitted to Sky at the end of the Chinese Sprint race. “But in both the first and middle parts of the race, I didn’t have great pace. It’s definitely a missed point. Historically, this track—like Melbourne—has always been a bit tricky for me. That’s not an excuse, but so far, I haven’t been at Hamilton’s level.” – he pointed out.

Charles Leclerc knows he must respond, starting with the upcoming Qualifying session in just a few hours: “After these races, I hope to look ahead to the next rounds, but right now, I need to focus on maximizing points here. In this race, for example, I could have finished fourth. This afternoon, I hope to find a better feeling with the car to qualify in a stronger position.”

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Starting from pole position, Hamilton put himself in the perfect spot for the short Saturday race. As the lights went out, he reacted swiftly, fending off Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, which never truly posed a serious challenge for the lead. After an initial phase of graining that allowed the Dutchman to close the gap, Hamilton’s Ferrari quickly recovered pace, controlling the race and extending his advantage over the chasers.

The checkered flag sealed Lewis Hamilton’s maiden Ferrari victory in the Chinese Sprint Race. The Ferrari mechanics celebrated with raised fists on the pit wall, while the British driver punched the air in triumph, making this Saturday in Shanghai one for the history books. Beyond the emotional win, Ferrari took encouraging signs from the 19-lap Sprint, particularly regarding race pace. Hamilton stood out with his tire management, and Charles Leclerc also showed late-race improvement. Optimism is high in the Ferrari garage heading into Sunday’s Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton’s Triumph: Pure Joy After Sprint Victory in China

Ferrari’s first Sprint win. Hamilton’s first Sprint win. Jacques Villeneuve conducted the post-race interview: “Second race with Ferrari and already a victory. You came here and destroyed the competition!” The #44 Ferrari driver spoke with deep emotion, his words nearly drowned out by the roar of the crowd: “The weather is beautiful, and the fans are fantastic. The first race was tough. A lot of people underestimated how difficult it is to join a new team, and many talked nonsense.”

“This weekend, I felt much more comfortable in the car right from the start. That wasn’t the case in Melbourne. We worked hard with the team to optimize the car, and today it went perfectly. I had a great start. The grip on this new asphalt is incredible, but managing the tires was still a challenge,” explained Hamilton.

“I don’t know how people will react to this result. I don’t feel pressure, but I know the fans want to win. We have to take it one step at a time, keep pushing while staying calm, diligent, and focused. It’s easy to get carried away in moments like this, but the road ahead is still very long.”

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