F1 Starting Grid 2025 Chinese Sprint Race
Event: Chinese Grand Prix
Track: Shanghai International Circuit
Warm-up lap starts at: 11:00 Local | 04:00 CET | 03:00 UK | 20:00 LA | 12:00 Tokio
Hamilton Shocks F1 with Sprint Pole in Shanghai – Verstappen & McLaren in Pursuit
The Shanghai International Circuit delivered a thrilling Sprint Qualifying session, with Lewis Hamilton stunning the paddock by securing pole position for Ferrari. The seven-time world champion edged out Max Verstappen by just 0.018 seconds, marking his first P1 start since joining the Scuderia.
McLaren, expected to dominate, faced a setback as Lando Norris ran wide on his final lap, leaving him sixth on the grid. Meanwhile, his teammate Oscar Piastri delivered a strong lap to claim third, ahead of Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari.
With Verstappen lining up alongside Hamilton, a fierce battle into Turn 1 is all but guaranteed. Can Hamilton convert his shock pole into victory, or will Verstappen and McLaren fight back?
Here’s how the grid shapes up for Saturday’s Sprint Race:
F1 Starting Grid 2025 Chinese Sprint
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Lap Time | Pole gap |
| 1 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:30,849 | |
| 2 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:30,867 | +0,018s |
| 3 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:30,929 | +0,080s |
| 4 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:31,057 | +0,208s |
| 5 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:31,169 | +0,320s |
| 6 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:31,393 | +0,544s |
| 7 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:31,738 | +0,889s |
| 8 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Racing Bulls | 1:31,773 | +0,924s |
| 9 | 23 | Alex Albon | Williams | 1:31,852 | +1,003s |
| 10 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:31,982 | +1,133s |
| 11 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:31,815 | +0,966s |
| 12 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | 1:31,978 | +1,129s |
| 13 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | 1:32,325 | +1,476s |
| 14 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Sauber | 1:32,564 | +1,715s |
| 15 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | DNF | |
| 16 | 7 | Jack Doohan | Alpine | 1:32,575 | +1,726s |
| 17 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:32,640 | +1,791s |
| 18 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | 1:32,651 | +1,802s |
| 19 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Red Bull | 1:32,729 | +1,880s |
| PL | 27 | Nico Hülkenberg | Sauber | 1:32,675 | +1,826s |
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber (#27) - Required to start from the pit lane, because the car was modified whilst under Parc Fermé conditions.
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Well done Lewis, let battle commence. Hope they get past the first corner at least. I feel for Kelly.
It could be experience, driving ability, who knows - the car?
It'll never happen again though, I'll bet shopgirl's blouse on it
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