Lewis Hamilton crosses the finish line first aboard the Ferrari, while Charles Leclerc finishes the Chinese Sprint race in fifth position. A dream the Briton has had since childhood: winning with the Prancing Horse. It comes true in the second round of the championship, even though not in the main race, but in the smaller 100-kilometer one. A huge satisfaction in the aftermath of the disaster broadcast from the Albert Park swimming pool, where almost nothing worked for the Maranello team.
The Sprint Race is not an easy competition. There are no pit stops, and while the need to push to the maximum prevails, tire management is equally crucial, especially on a track like the 5.451-kilometre Shanghai International Circuit, which wears out tires significantly. Lewis Hamilton delivered a masterclass in this regard, following his pole position yesterday, as his race engineer Riccardo Adami noted at the end of the Sprint event when he congratulated the Dutch driver over the team radio.
Yet, it wasn’t easy. Undoubtedly, running at the front helped, avoiding the turbulence generated by other cars. However, the tedious graining phenomenon also appeared on the left front tire of car number 44 and, for a moment in the race, caused slight concern for the former Mercedes driver. Lewis Hamilton, however, remained calm, despite Max Verstappen trying to close the gap behind him.
The seven-time Formula 1 world champion’s display of Ferrari’s strength should not be underestimated, especially considering Pirelli’s pressure adjustments. The Italian tire manufacturer was concerned that the cars’ higher-than-expected downforce levels could cause issues. The British champion showed great intelligence, building his victory through many small details.
Without a doubt, Lewis Hamilton has vast experience after nearly two decades in Formula One. On the other hand, unlike Charles Leclerc, who struggled tremendously due to an incorrect setup, failing to turn properly in Turn 13 due to an endemic lack of rotation, the Briton dominated the race without too many issues. However, before the competition, some noteworthy events unfolded.
On the starting grid, with about ten minutes to go before the race, Lewis Hamilton asked a series of questions regarding tire management. An exchange of information with his race engineer, Riccardo Adami, that was useful for optimizing tire usage. The British driver was forward-thinking, precise, and eager for information, wanting to understand where he could push or hold back in every single corner of the track.
Discussions took place before the formation lap to prepare the tires optimally for the start and later regarding the race itself, where all strategies were executed to perfection. Additionally, during the Sprint Race, guidance was provided on how to use the differential to best manage the car’s rotation. The same applied to brake system mappings and power unit settings.
On the other hand, the Monegasque driver had a much more complicated race, despite the fact that his clutch release at the start was excellent, allowing him to pull alongside Oscar Piastri and engage in a wheel-to-wheel battle up to the second sector of the track. Unfortunately, the Australian defended brilliantly and, as often happens in such situations, the third party benefitted. Indeed, George Russell’s Mercedes bided its time before taking advantage of its superior traction in Turn 13, leading onto the 1.2 kilometer straight.
The Briton exploited his lower-drag setup and, at the end of the long high-speed section, overtook the Ferrari driver. From that point on, Charles Leclerc struggled with graining and the aforementioned understeer, only managing to get close toward the race’s end in an attempt to reclaim the position. He tried everything, but George Russell consistently shut the door, defending excellently.
After the Sprint Race, teams are allowed to adjust their car’s setup. Ferrari has therefore decided to tweak the setup of car number 16 to improve Charles Leclerc’s confidence with the SF-25. A move that could turn around a weekend that has been underwhelming so far, as a qualifying session and a 300-kilometer race still remain, offering a chance to overturn the situation.
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