Results & Report 2024 Chinese Formula 1 Sprint
Event: Chinese Grand Prix
Track: Shanghai International Circuit
Max Verstappen driving the Red Bull Racing RB20 leads Carlos Sainz driving the Ferrari SF-24 on track during the Sprint ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit on April 20, 2024 in Shanghai
Weather: 20.1°C Cloudy & Dry
Tarmac: 27.7°C Dry
Humidity: 68.0%
Wind: 6.1 km//h South
Verstappen Dominates Shanghai Sprint as Hamilton Secures a Stellar Second
In a captivating display of skill and strategy, Max Verstappen clinched a commanding victory in the Formula 1 Sprint at the Shanghai International Circuit, solidifying his reputation as the man to beat in dry conditions. Starting from fourth on the grid, Verstappen showcased his prowess by overcoming early challenges to win the race by a notable margin of 13 seconds ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who achieved his best result of the season.
The Sprint, which did not see any mandatory pit stops, was a rollercoaster from the outset. Lando Norris, starting from pole position, immediately lost his advantage by running wide on the first turn, which allowed Hamilton to take the lead momentarily. However, it wasn't long before Verstappen made his move, overtaking Hamilton on the 10th lap and never looking back.
Hamilton's performance was noteworthy as he managed to fend off any further challenges to secure second place, proving that despite a lack of one-lap pace compared to the Red Bulls, the Mercedes could still compete fiercely in race conditions. Sergio Pérez completed the podium, making crucial overtakes and defending his position vigorously in the latter stages of the race.
The Sprint was not without its drama, as wheel-to-wheel action saw Fernando Alonso retire after a puncture caused by contact with Carlos Sainz. This incident, among others, was subject to scrutiny by the race stewards but was ultimately deemed a racing incident.
Further down the field, the battle for the middle positions was intense. Charles Leclerc, starting from seventh, made significant inroads, ending up fourth by capitalizing on the skirmishes ahead, including a particularly aggressive defense from his teammate Sainz, who finished just behind in fifth.
Norris, after his initial mishap, apologized to his team over the radio and managed to claw back to sixth place, showing resilience despite the setback. The rest of the top eight included Oscar Piastri and George Russell, both of whom drove solid races to secure valuable points.
Off the track, the dynamics within teams hinted at tensions, particularly within Ferrari where Leclerc expressed dissatisfaction with the aggressive intra-team battling. These incidents are likely to spark rigorous debriefs as teams regroup and strategize for the main race.
With qualifying scheduled for later in the day, the drivers will have little time to reflect on the Sprint's outcomes. The fast-paced nature of the day ensures that the adrenaline will keep flowing, setting the stage for what promises to be an enthralling Grand Prix.
As the F1 circus continues its 2024 season, Verstappen's early dominance in the sprints poses intriguing questions about his potential to maintain this form in the main races, while his rivals undoubtedly regroup and recalibrate their strategies to challenge the reigning champion. The next rounds will be crucial for determining whether Verstappen can continue his winning streak or if a challenger can disrupt his run at the top.
The quickest sector times were:
- 26.617 sec by Lando Norris - McLaren MCL38
- 29.894 sec by Lewis Hamilton - Mercedes W15
- 43.072 sec by Fernando Alonso - Aston Martin AMR24
Classification 2024 Chinese F1 Sprint
| P | No | Driver | Team | Time | Laps | Points |
| 1 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 32:04,660 | 19 | 8 |
| 2 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 32:17,703 | 19 | 7 |
| 3 | 11 | Sergio Pérez | Red Bull | 32:19.918 | 19 | 6 |
| 4 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 32:22.146 | 19 | 5 |
| 5 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 32:25.356 | 19 | 4 |
| 6 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 32:26.748 | 19 | 3 |
| 7 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 32:29.373 | 19 | 2 |
| 8 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 32:30.356 | 19 | 1 |
| 9 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Sauber | 32:36.611 | 19 | 0 |
| 10 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas | 32:42.058 | 19 | 0 |
| 11 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | Racing Bulls | 32:42.500 | 19 | 0 |
| 12 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Sauber | 32:42.955 | 19 | 0 |
| 13 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 32:44.501 | 19 | 0 |
| 14 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine | 32:44.959 | 19 | 0 |
| 15 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 32:45.498 | 19 | 0 |
| 16 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Racing Bulls | 32:46.530 | 19 | 0 |
| 17 | 23 | Alex Albon | Williams | 32:47.658 | 19 | 0 |
| 18 | 2 | Logan Sargeant | Williams | 32:51.012 | 19 | 0 |
| 19 | 27 | Nico Hülkenberg | Haas | 32:54.290 | 19 | 0 |
| 20 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | retired | 17 | 0 |
Fastest lap: 1:40.331 min by Max Verstappen (Red Bull RB20) in lap 3 with 195,588 km/h
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A largely straightforward first 2024 sprint with some good battling, especially towards the end thanks to Alonso's pace drop towards the end, & also some further down the field, most of which didn't get shown on the world feed.
I was surprised about Hulk's sudden pace drop, though.
Either he had an issue, or his tyre wear was poor.