The morning Sprint delivers Lewis Hamilton’s first small victory in red, confirming a consistent race pace for Ferrari. The British champion is the only one able to maintain a steady 1.37.5 in the final laps, compared to Oscar Piastri’s 1.38.7 and Max Verstappen’s times exceeding 1.39. A key factor in Lewis Hamilton’s performance is his ability to run in clean air without aerodynamic disturbances. Meanwhile, the Red Bull rival suffers from his aggressive attempt to stay close to the Ferrari for over 10 laps, while the Australian pays the price for tire degradation following his overtake on the world champion.

Ferrari also finds encouragement in Charles Leclerc, who, after initial struggles, returns to podium contention in the final laps, despite the Maranello cars starting on used tires with six laps of wear, compared to Max Verstappen’s four and McLaren’s three, second only to Mercedes’ eight-lap-old tires. However, the Sprint highlights concerns over tire management for the Grand Prix, particularly on the front axle in fast corners, where some graining issues emerge.

Saturday’s race features more overtaking than usual, further proof of significant tire degradation creating pace differences between cars. Overtaking is certainly possible at the Shanghai International Circuit, provided drivers exit the long corner onto the back straight effectively. Ferrari’s difficulties in this sector prevent Charles Leclerc from reclaiming his position from George Russell. The Monegasque driver reported over the radio that they had a problem in Turn 13 and that the car was undriveable.. His words reinforce the picture of an SF-25 with a front-end focus but still stable in high-speed corners, inevitably paying the price with understeer on acceleration out of slow turns.

The afternoon qualifying raises questions about why the situation differs so much from previous sessions. Attention turns to the 1 psi increase in static tire pressures imposed by Pirelli due to the new track surface, which has a higher-than-expected grip level, leading to greater stress on the tires. Naturally, a more inflated tire has a smaller contact patch with the ground, providing less grip and deforming more, which generates additional heat and degradation.

However, this change was already in effect for the Sprint, with setup adjustments having a greater impact on the qualifying outcome. After the morning warnings, teams opted for less aggressive setups in preparation for Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix, needing to manage the tires over longer distances and with more fuel on board. Lewis Hamilton commented that they had struggled a lot with the balance that afternoon and that the changes they made had given him much more oversteer.

Compared to Friday, Ferrari lost over two-tenths in the third sector, where times increased for everyone, especially Max Verstappen, who compensated by shaving off three-tenths in the first sector. Wind and higher-downforce configurations played a role, as shown by straight-line speed measurements, but so did traction difficulties in turns 12, 13, and 14 due to the oversteer balance of the Ferrari, which also led to overheating of the rear tires. The question is whether this was a deliberate choice to protect the front axle, the most critical for tire management in the race.

Charles Leclerc summed up the qualifying session by saying that the others improved, but they didn’t improve as much, acknowledging his rivals’ merits. Since Friday, McLaren had shown flashes of clear superiority, confirmed by Norris setting the best time in Q1 and Q2, followed by Oscar Piastri’s pole position in Q3. The British and Australian drivers gained six and three-tenths respectively from Friday, when an unfortunate pit exit timing had compromised their results. However, even on Saturday, Lando Norris made too many driving errors, which could be blamed both on him and the unpredictable nature of the MCL39 on a single lap.

George Russell took advantage of the situation, improving by four and a half tenths from Friday and placing his Mercedes on the front row. The Briton spoke of a W16 that “came to life” on the final attempt, finally hitting the right tire operating window after experimenting with various preparation strategies, including a double warm-up lap. Max Verstappen leads the third row, occupied by the two Ferrari drivers, eager to see if their setup choices will confirm the strong race pace shown in the Sprint. However, dirty air from traffic could complicate their plans for a repeat performance.

Despite a different pecking order, the second day of action in Shanghai confirms the previous day’s verdicts. McLaren shows a superior potential compared to its rivals, while Ferrari is still more competitive than the disastrous picture painted after the Australia Grand Prix weekend, with fast corners being its main strength. The closest challenger to the top four teams is Racing Bulls, with an impressive 6th place in the Sprint, followed by a double top-10 finish in qualifying. Notably, Esteban Ocon came close to reaching Q3, with a Haas that in Melbourne was last and struggling with aerodynamic instability. Also encouraging is Sauber’s Q2 appearance with Nico Hülkenberg, confirming that Gabriel Bortoleto’s similar result in Australia was not an isolated case. However, the race’s outcome, finally set to take place in dry conditions, remains completely open.

— see video above —

The post Ferrari brought back down to earth: factors behind SF-25 struggles in Chinese GP qualifying appeared first on Scuderia Fans.

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.

The post Lewis Hamilton: “Others have improved. We made changes and now have more oversteer” | China qualifying appeared first on Scuderia Fans.

Oscar Piastri has secured his first-ever Formula 1 pole position after delivering a standout performance in qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix. The McLaren driver outpaced the competition to claim the top spot, marking a significant milestone in his career.

Joining Piastri on the front row will be George Russell, who narrowly prevented a McLaren front-row lockout with a last-gasp effort. Meanwhile, reigning world champion Max Verstappen will start from third place, lining up alongside current championship leader Lando Norris on the second row.

Ferrari will occupy the third row, with both of its drivers positioned just behind the top contenders. At present, no grid penalties have been confirmed, but investigations are underway regarding an incident between Ollie Bearman and Lance Stroll for possible impeding, as well as a suspected unsafe release by Racing Bulls involving Isack Hadjar.

Provisional starting grid

1 Piastri
2 Russell
3 Norris
4 Verstappen
5 Hamilton
6 Leclerc
7 Hadjar
8 Antonelli
9 Tsunoda
10 Albon
11 Ocon
12 Hulkenberg
13 Alonso
14 Stroll
15 Sainz
16 Gasly
17 Bearman
18 Doohan
19 Bortoleto
20 Lawson

The post F1 starting grid for 2025 Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai circuit appeared first on Scuderia Fans.

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.

The post Ferrari SF-25: Lewis Hamilton wins the Sprint Race in China, Charles Leclerc changes setup appeared first on Scuderia Fans.

Checkered flag at the Shanghai Sprint Race: here’s how the F1 Drivers’ and Constructors’ standings change after the sprint in China.

The checkered flag waves over Shanghai, marking the conclusion of the first sprint race of the 2025 season. Let’s see how the F1 World Championship standings have changed after the Chinese GP Sprint.

F1 2025 – Drivers’ Standings after the Sprint in China
Lando NORRIS (McLaren) – 26 points
Max VERSTAPPEN (Red Bull) – 24 points
George RUSSELL (Mercedes) – 20 points
Andrea Kimi ANTONELLI (Mercedes) – 14 points
Alexander ALBON (Williams) – 10 points
Lewis HAMILTON (Ferrari) – 9 points
Oscar PIASTRI (McLaren) – 9 points
Charles LECLERC (Ferrari) – 8 points
Lance STROLL (Aston Martin) – 8 points
Nico HULKENBERG (Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber) – 6 points
Yuki TSUNODA (Racing Bulls) – 3 points
Pierre GASLY (Alpine) – 0 points
Esteban OCON (Haas) – 0 points
Oliver BEARMAN (Haas) – 0 points
Liam LAWSON (Red Bull) – 0 points
Gabriel BORTOLETO (Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber) – 0 points
Fernando ALONSO (Aston Martin) – 0 points
Carlos SAINZ (Williams) – 0 points
Jack DOOHAN (Alpine) – 0 points
Isack HADJAR (Haas) – 0 points

F1 Constructors’ Standings after the Sprint in China
McLaren – 35 points
Mercedes – 34 points
Red Bull – 24 points
Ferrari – 17 points
Williams – 10 points
Aston Martin – 8 points
Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber – 6 points
Racing Bulls – 3 points
Alpine – 0 points
Haas – 0 points

Thus, the 2025 F1 Drivers’ and Constructors’ standings change after the Chinese GP sprint race, the first of the newly started championship. After the short Saturday race, it’s now time for the proper qualifying session, which will determine the starting grid for the Shanghai Grand Prix.

The post F1 Chinese GP – Updated Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championship Standings after Sprint race appeared first on Scuderia Fans.

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.”

The post Charles Leclerc: “A historically difficult track for me, so far I haven’t been at Hamilton’s level” appeared first on Scuderia Fans.

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.”

The post Lewis Hamilton’s first win with Ferrari: “You destroyed the competition!” – China Sprint appeared first on Scuderia Fans.

Sprint Race Recap

As the cars lined up on the grid, Max Verstappen angled his Red Bull toward Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari, aiming to gain an advantage off the line and defend against any early overtaking attempts from the Briton.

When the lights went out, Hamilton made an excellent launch, successfully fending off Piastri. Charles Leclerc also held his ground against George Russell while attempting to challenge Piastri into Turn 3. Meanwhile, Lando Norris found himself compromised at Turn 5, losing two positions after his McLaren got unsettled mid-corner.

As the pack approached the hairpin at Turn 14, Russell executed a decisive move on Charles Leclerc, overtaking the Ferrari on the inside. The Monegasque, however, remained glued to the back of the Mercedes, determined to reclaim the lost position.

By lap 3, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion set the fastest lap of the race, crucially pulling out of Verstappen’s DRS range.

By lap 5, the top five order remained unchanged: Hamilton led from Verstappen, followed by Piastri, Russell, and Leclerc. Behind them, Yuki Tsunoda continued to impress in sixth. Meanwhile, Red Bull’s Liam Lawson made a late-braking move on Alpine’s Jack Doohan into the Turn 14 hairpin. The aggressive maneuver led to contact between the two, prompting the Stewards to launch an investigation into Lawson for causing a collision.

Lap 9 saw Hamilton’s tires degrade faster than expected, allowing Verstappen to close the gap to just six-tenths of a second. Piastri, on the other hand, dropped out of Verstappen’s DRS range, losing touch with the front two. The Ferrari driver wasn’t the only one struggling with tire wear—Norris, running in ninth, radioed his engineer Will Joseph, complaining that despite managing his pace, his tires were still wearing excessively.

Further down the order, an intense midfield battle unfolded as Gabriel Bortoleto, Isack Hadjar, Pierre Gasly, Carlos Sainz, and Liam Lawson fought fiercely for P13. In the midst of the scrap, Lawson made contact with another car on the main straight, causing minor bodywork damage to his Red Bull.

At the front, Oscar Piastri also began experiencing graining, while Verstappen’s front tires looked visibly worn. This played into Hamilton’s hands, as the Ferrari driver extended his lead to 1.5 seconds.

By lap 12, Carlos Sainz’s struggles continued. The Spaniard lost two positions in a single corner, first to Hadjar at Turn 4, then to Lawson, who seized the opportunity to slip past as well. Realizing his deteriorating pace, Sainz immediately dived into the pits for fresh rubber.

Lap 14 saw Oscar Piastri challenge Verstappen with a bold move into Turn 1. The Dutchman defended aggressively, forcing Piastri to attempt the pass around the outside. Shortly after, Verstappen radioed his engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, reporting that both his front tires were “completely gone.”

A few laps later, Oscar Piastri finally lined up an overtake on Verstappen at Turn 14. The Red Bull driver didn’t give up the position easily, but their wheel-to-wheel battle remained fair. Further back, Norris also gained a place, overtaking Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll to move up to eighth and secure a points-paying position.

F1 China, the Sprint standings

The post Chinese GP sprint report: Lewis Hamilton wins in Ferrari colours for the first time in his career! appeared first on Scuderia Fans.

Sir Lewis Hamilton's race start – smooth.

pic.twitter.com/PmG9yng2PC

— sim (@simsgazette) March 22, 2025

— see video above —

The post Watch onboard: Lewis Hamilton holds off Max Verstappen at start of F1 Chinese GP Sprint appeared first on Scuderia Fans.

Pirelli is at work during the F1 China weekend: tire pressures are adjusted after Sprint Qualifying. The grip level of the new Shanghai asphalt is too high, which, compared to simulations, lowers lap times by “more than two seconds” for the cars. This change ensures the integrity of the tire compounds and driver safety, without negatively affecting performance.

The Chinese Friday opens with Ferrari’s first joy of the season. Lewis Hamilton takes pole position in the sprint qualifying, ahead of Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri. Ferrari beats Red Bull, while McLaren is confused by a less-than-optimal strategy. Too many errors from both drivers, with Lando Norris forced to start only in sixth position.

While Frédéric Vasseur preaches calm, focusing on the “negative” aspects of the SF-25, Maranello can finally regain some peace of mind. The car finds balance again and withstands the strong winds that complicate the rivals’ work, especially in the McLaren garage. However, starting from Saturday’s Sprint Race, Pirelli intervenes on the tires: an essential adjustment on the new Shanghai asphalt.

Pirelli increases tire pressures: no effect on performance
The tire pressures for this weekend, already considered fairly high, are further increased: the front pressure rises from 26.5 psi to 27.5 psi; the rear pressure increases from 23.0 psi to 24.0 psi. A routine adjustment, however, it has not been well received by the social media crowd, who are concerned about the potential effects on Ferrari.

Reassurance comes directly from Mario Isola, responding to a comment on Instagram: “[We increased the pressures] because the simulations we received underestimated the grip level of the asphalt, thus lowering car performance by more than 2 seconds per lap. 1 psi more does not change anything in terms of performance.”

Increasing tire pressures is necessary on high-grip tracks to ensure the structural integrity of the tire compounds. Too low a pressure can create issues in the shoulder area, which, if uncontrolled, can lead to failures and punctures.

The post F1 Chinese GP – Tire pressure change for rest of weekend: Pirelli increases both front and rear pressures appeared first on Scuderia Fans.