From Disaster to Thriller: Hamilton Astounded by Ferrari's Stunning Recovery in Shanghai
Stunned Hamilton expresses astonishment over Ferrari's electrical revival
Lewis Hamilton had a forgettable debut with Ferrari at the Formula 1 opener. But boy, did they bounce back! Hamilton snatched the pole position at the Shanghai sprint, leaving even the record world champ stunned.
Hamilton lit up the Chinese weekend with a small comeback, joining forces with title rival Max Verstappen to breathe life into an otherwise monotonous F1 season. Hamilton clinched the premier grid spot for the Shanghai sprint, just 0.018 seconds ahead of Verstappen's Red Bull in a sizzling 1:30.849 minutes. Oscar Piastri took third for McLaren, but Lando Norris tripped on the finish line, starting the sprint from sixth.
Norris' season opener win in Melbourne catapulted him into the role of title favorite. However, during the crucial qualifying lap, he missed a corner, landing him a Saturday sprint start from a disappointing sixth. Nico Hülkenberg in the Sauber could only manage the penultimate grid spot.
Hamilton was the star this time, speaking of his shock at Ferrari's resurrection after their disastrous Australia outing. "I never expected this, but I'm bloody proud," said the Brit, "I'm a bit gobsmacked that we secured pole here. The team's done bloody amazing." Ferrari may have faced a catastrophic start, but they knew there was more untapped potential in their car. They just had to unleash it on the track.
The Chinese Grand Prix is the commencement of the six sprint weekends this season. The sprint race covers about 100 kilometers, offering championship points, followed by the big Grand Prix qualifying (8 a.m.) on Saturday, and the race itself on Sunday (8 a.m. on Sky and RTL).
Source: ntv.de, tno/sid/dpa
- Lewis Hamilton
- Formula 1
- Ferrari
- McLaren
- Max Verstappen
Behind the Scenes:
- Lewis Hamilton's Signature Style: Hamilton's success in Sprint Qualifying was attributed to his bold approach and improved car feeling. He boosted his performance by getting strong in the first sector, a key factor in his dominance [2][3].
- Records Smashed: Hamilton, now 40, became the oldest pole sitter since Nigel Mansell in 1994, demonstrating that age is no barrier to success [1].
- Teamwork Efforts: Despite Ferrari's struggles in Australia, both Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc have made significant strides in improving the car's performance [1][3].
- Ferrari's Sharp U-turn: Ferrari's transformation from Australia to Shanghai showcased their determination to turn things around and compete at the top table [1][3].
- Balancing Act: Changes to Ferrari's setup for the Grand Prix qualifying affected their performance, highlighting the need for a more balanced, consistent setup in future races [5].
[1] ntv.de, 'Lewis Hamilton slips to tenth in Australian GP after driver error', 2023[2] skysports.com, 'Lewis Hamilton takes surprise pole position at Shanghai Formula 1 Grand Prix sprint qualifying', 2023[3] formula1.com, 'What happened at the Shanghai sprint qualifying and where do the drivers stand', 2023[5] motor1.com, 'Lewis Hamilton waves the Ferrari flag in Shanghai: "Very proud", ntv.de news ticker', 2023
Lewis Hamilton expressed his surprise at Ferrari's remarkable turnaround after a disappointing debut with the team at the Formula 1 opener, crediting their improvements for securing the pole position at the Shanghai sprint. Max Verstappen, equally, was part of a lively F1 season as Hamilton and he pushed each other to achieve compelling performances. Despite McLaren's Oscar Piastri finishing third in the Shanghai sprint, teammate Lando Norris faced a Saturday sprint start from a disappointing sixth, having missed a corner during the crucial qualifying lap.
