Even after an off-qualifying session for the Formula 1 Sprint in China on Friday (April 19), a fourth-place result wasn’t near enough to stop Max Verstappen.
The Dutchman moved up to third at the start of the race when pole-sitter Lando Norris ran wide in turn 2 and fell all the way back to seventh. Verstappen then spent nine laps getting by Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton to take the lead .
Hamilton was able to finish second after leading the first half of the race. Sergio Perez came out victorious in a late-race scrap involving himself, Alonso, Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc to finish third.
“That’s the best result I’ve had in a long time,” Hamilton said in the post-race podium interview. “Of course I’m super happy and grateful. We couldn’t fight the Red Bulls today, but this was a big step and a big improvement.”
On lap 16 of the 19 lap sprint, Sainz made contact with Alonso in turn 10, giving Alonso a puncture. The former champion then threw a block on the current Ferrari driver and allowed Perez to overtake them both.
Alonso would then pit and retire the car after a puncture developed from the wreck. Leclerc and Sainz dueled for fourth in the last three laps with Leclerc prevailing.
Norris finished sixth and Oscar Piastri ended up seventh. George Russell ended up getting the last point of the day in eighth.
Although he did not score any points, Zhou Guanyu was able to finish ninth in his hometown.
The 2024 Chinese Grand Prix will go green at the Shanghai International Circuit on Sunday, (April 21) at 3 a.m. ET with coverage on ESPN.
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