Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing emerged victorious in the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix Sprint, surpassing Lewis Hamilton after starting from fourth place on the grid.
Verstappen made a remarkable comeback, overtaking Hamilton and establishing a comfortable lead to claim the win. Sergio Perez finished third in the race.
Despite earlier rain disruptions, the race proceeded under overcast skies. Lando Norris, who started at the front, opted for the Medium compound tire, while the rest of the top 10 followed suit. George Russell, starting from 11th, chose the Softs.
Hamilton managed to launch his car alongside Norris after the formation lap, resulting in Norris losing positions to Alonso, Verstappen, and Perez.
In the meantime, Perez faced pressure from Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari, but Sainz’s attempt to overtake Verstappen was unsuccessful. Norris also battled with Charles Leclerc, who ultimately overtook him.
Russell, who initially struggled due to his tire choice, managed to recover and gain positions by overtaking Valtteri Bottas and Kevin Magnussen.
Hamilton expressed concerns about Mercedes’ speed in dry conditions but managed to keep Alonso outside the DRS range. Verstappen closed in on Alonso and successfully overtook him with the help of DRS.
Hamilton’s car balance and rotation issues became apparent, and a braking mistake allowed Verstappen to take the lead. Russell also made a move, overtaking Zhou Guanyu to secure ninth place.
Verstappen continued to extend his lead, while Sainz attempted to challenge Alonso for the final podium spot. Perez defended his position against Leclerc, who tried multiple overtaking maneuvers but was ultimately unsuccessful.
Sainz and Alonso made contact earlier in the race, resulting in a puncture for Alonso and his subsequent retirement. Sainz initially held off Leclerc but eventually lost the position, allowing Leclerc to finish ahead.
At the front, Verstappen remained unchallenged, with Hamilton finishing second. Perez recovered to secure third place. Leclerc emerged as the leading Ferrari driver, while Norris dropped to sixth. Oscar Piastri and Russell completed the top eight.