The first Sprint Race of the season was held at the returning Shanghai International Circuit which was absent for 5 years from the Formula 1 calendar.
Red Bull’s Dutchman Max Verstappen coasted towards his 7th victory in the 13th edition of a ‘shortened Grand Prix race.’
The opening lap and the shenanigans of lap 17 marked a 19-lap race.
Sprint pole-man Lando Norris got beaten off the line by the Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, not losing just one place but ultimately dropping down to P7 by the end of lap one.
In a racing battle towards a ‘snail section’ of Shanghai International Circuit, Lando Norris overcalculated the racing line and went wide into the turn 2 exit.
This would eventually end the hopes of Briton’s Sprint victory or podium.
In the meantime, Lewis Hamilton balanced out a gap to Fernando Alonso in second place and was cruising towards his first Sprint victory since Brazil 2021.
This was until Max Verstappen upped the pace and overtook both Alonso and Hamilton at the back of the main-straight on laps 9 and 11 respectively. Verstappen would then pull a 12-second lead over Hamilton in 10 laps to bring the checkered flag.
By scoring a maximum of 8 points, Verstappen could extend the gap to its nearest rivals in the championship.
Albeit Verstappen’s dominant victory at China’s Sprint Race, Lap 17 was the true highlight.
In a battle for the final spot on the podium, Alonso managed to lose out to Sergio Pérez and both Ferrari’s of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc.
Contact between two Spaniards in turn 8 prompted a slow front-right puncture for Aston Martin’s Alonso which would soon force him to retire from the race.
Sainz could not maintain 3rd place due to a loss of both front wing endplates and was passed by both Pérez and Leclerc to conclude the first part of Saturday’s action in 5th.
The next Sprint Race is set to happen at the Miami Grand Prix which happens to be the next race of the Formula 1 season.