2025 Chinese GP Sprint Qualifying: Hamilton Claims First Ferrari Pole

Lewis Hamilton delivered a sensational performance to claim pole position for Saturday’s Sprint at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix, marking a remarkable turnaround in just his second race weekend with Ferrari. After a challenging debut in Melbourne that saw him finish 10th, the seven-time world champion bounced back in style at a circuit where he holds a record six Grand Prix wins, showing strong pace throughout the Sprint Qualifying session.

In securing pole, Hamilton became the first 40-year-old driver since Nigel Mansell at the 1994 Australian Grand Prix, who was 41 Years, 3 Months, and 9 Days at the time. Hamilton was 40 Years, 2 Months, and 14 Days to take pole position in F1 in any format.

Oldest Pole Sitters In F1 In Any Format

In an ultra-close SQ3 shootout, Hamilton edged out Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by just 0.018s with a blistering 1m 30.849s lap, securing the top spot in dramatic fashion. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri slotted into third, while Charles Leclerc ensured both Ferraris were in the mix at the front. With mere tenths separating the top four, the stage was set for a thrilling Sprint showdown in Shanghai.

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McLaren may have come into Sprint Qualifying as the favourites, but Lewis Hamilton stole the spotlight with a stunning lap to take pole position for Saturday’s Sprint at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix. Not only did the seven-time world champion outpace his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc for the first time this season, but he also outperformed all his main rivals — delivering a lap that surprised even him. “I didn’t expect that result but so, so happy and so proud,” Hamilton said. “Clearly the last race was a disaster for us, but we knew there was more pace in the car. I’m a bit shocked. I can’t believe we got a pole in the Sprint!”

Hamilton would be joined on the front row by his 2021 Championship rival, Max Verstappen, who continued his solid form in the Red Bull, finishing just 0.018s off the Ferrari. Oscar Piastri was the quickest McLaren in third, while Leclerc settled for fourth, two-tenths off his teammate’s benchmark.

It was a tougher session for early championship leader Lando Norris, who made a mistake on his final run and ended up sixth. Meanwhile, Liam Lawson’s difficult start with Red Bull’s senior team continued, as an error at Turn 9 in SQ1 saw him run wide and drop to the bottom of the timesheets, sentencing the New Zealander to a back-row start for the Sprint. It was not the start to the new season he would have wanted. Was the second Red Bull seat again too tricky for any driver to make their mark? Only another 22 races would tell.

2025 Chinese GP Sprint Qualifying Results

2025 Chinese Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying, 21 March 2025

George Russell secured fifth place in Sprint Qualifying as the lead Mercedes, earning a spot alongside Lando Norris on the third row. Just behind them, rookie Kimi Antonelli delivered a strong one-lap performance to take seventh in the second Silver Arrow in his first-ever F1 season — a notable improvement from his Melbourne debut, where he was knocked out in Q1 before recovering to finish a commendable fourth in the race.

2025 Chinese Sprint Starting Grid

The Sprint starting grid, with or without penalties, after the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying session.