Zürcher Nachrichten - Hamilton off the mark for Ferrari before Piastri takes China GP pole

EUR -
AED 4.190162
AFN 82.135427
ALL 99.363241
AMD 444.283963
ANG 2.055997
AOA 1046.652663
ARS 1343.832124
AUD 1.77551
AWG 2.056237
AZN 1.932993
BAM 1.966166
BBD 2.303947
BDT 138.639709
BGN 1.953904
BHD 0.429896
BIF 3345.876246
BMD 1.140769
BND 1.499278
BOB 7.901484
BRL 6.450363
BSD 1.141116
BTN 96.978582
BWP 15.642193
BYN 3.734222
BYR 22359.07754
BZD 2.292054
CAD 1.578077
CDF 3284.275012
CHF 0.937102
CLF 0.028062
CLP 1076.874961
CNY 8.321893
CNH 8.311753
COP 4810.623979
CRC 576.941701
CUC 1.140769
CUP 30.230385
CVE 110.5978
CZK 24.954899
DJF 202.737766
DKK 7.465457
DOP 67.305622
DZD 151.027578
EGP 58.001728
ERN 17.111539
ETB 149.550648
FJD 2.603406
FKP 0.856819
GBP 0.849411
GEL 3.125667
GGP 0.856819
GHS 17.465125
GIP 0.856819
GMD 80.994465
GNF 9873.357999
GTQ 8.788333
GYD 238.722293
HKD 8.848548
HNL 29.431933
HRK 7.534098
HTG 149.307164
HUF 404.328564
IDR 19166.691798
ILS 4.127418
IMP 0.856819
INR 97.14888
IQD 1494.978118
IRR 48040.649287
ISK 146.007378
JEP 0.856819
JMD 180.76141
JOD 0.808919
JPY 162.244805
KES 147.731395
KGS 99.760127
KHR 4566.499656
KMF 493.386381
KPW 1026.692336
KRW 1641.042437
KWD 0.349749
KYD 0.950997
KZT 585.190057
LAK 24683.369827
LBP 102212.926182
LKR 341.751753
LRD 227.64099
LSL 21.30462
LTL 3.368395
LVL 0.690039
LYD 6.242858
MAD 10.580087
MDL 19.54671
MGA 5147.719945
MKD 61.553306
MMK 2395.477676
MNT 4073.570578
MOP 9.116222
MRU 45.162707
MUR 51.619833
MVR 17.579546
MWK 1978.19458
MXN 22.352576
MYR 4.971243
MZN 73.008614
NAD 21.30462
NGN 1831.185579
NIO 41.991383
NOK 11.806653
NPR 155.166012
NZD 1.912066
OMR 0.439206
PAB 1.141091
PEN 4.182345
PGK 4.623565
PHP 64.362474
PKR 320.673116
PLN 4.267794
PYG 9137.172187
QAR 4.159191
RON 4.977976
RSD 117.831219
RUB 94.291218
RWF 1609.643891
SAR 4.279173
SBD 9.530343
SCR 16.496695
SDG 685.034147
SEK 10.947847
SGD 1.4939
SHP 0.896466
SLE 25.899685
SLL 23921.342521
SOS 651.952421
SRD 42.037662
STD 23611.620524
SVC 9.984552
SYP 14832.197421
SZL 21.121387
THB 38.078835
TJS 12.038155
TMT 3.992692
TND 3.402351
TOP 2.671797
TRY 43.857991
TTD 7.744695
TWD 37.014078
TZS 3068.668932
UAH 47.569776
UGX 4185.064123
USD 1.140769
UYU 48.042866
UZS 14772.962132
VES 98.730054
VND 29660.000818
VUV 137.556436
WST 3.153067
XAF 659.419079
XAG 0.034467
XAU 0.000342
XCD 3.082986
XDR 0.818879
XOF 656.505185
XPF 119.331742
YER 279.605762
ZAR 21.122997
ZMK 10268.29402
ZMW 31.864294
ZWL 367.327237
  • RBGPF

    -2.5700

    60.88

    -4.22%

  • SCS

    -0.0300

    9.86

    -0.3%

  • BCC

    -0.1800

    95.33

    -0.19%

  • AZN

    0.3600

    69.93

    +0.51%

  • CMSC

    -0.0100

    22.32

    -0.04%

  • GSK

    0.6300

    38.06

    +1.66%

  • BCE

    0.1600

    21.81

    +0.73%

  • RIO

    0.3100

    60.87

    +0.51%

  • RELX

    -0.1900

    53.36

    -0.36%

  • CMSD

    0.0200

    22.48

    +0.09%

  • NGG

    0.8100

    72.85

    +1.11%

  • JRI

    0.0600

    12.8

    +0.47%

  • RYCEF

    0.0300

    10.18

    +0.29%

  • VOD

    0.2200

    9.57

    +2.3%

  • BTI

    0.3400

    42.39

    +0.8%

  • BP

    -0.0600

    29.13

    -0.21%

Hamilton off the mark for Ferrari before Piastri takes China GP pole
Hamilton off the mark for Ferrari before Piastri takes China GP pole / Photo: Greg Baker - AFP

Hamilton off the mark for Ferrari before Piastri takes China GP pole

Lewis Hamilton roared to his maiden win in Ferrari red in the Chinese GP sprint on Saturday but the man he beat -- McLaren's Oscar Piastri -- later scored his first-ever pole position in main race qualifying.

Text size:

Piastri will be joined on the front row for Sunday's 56-lap race by the Mercedes of George Russell after a thrilling day of action at the Shanghai International Circuit.

Hamilton was only fifth in qualifying but the day already belonged to the seven-time world champion.

The 40-year-old controlled the 19-lap sprint race from pole to take the chequered flag in only his second weekend for Ferrari.

It added a sprint victory to his record six grands prix triumphs in Shanghai.

Hamilton was greeted by a crescendo of cheers from the massed fans, who unfurled huge banners displaying his number 44.

"That is a really, really special weekend so far," the Englishman told reporters.

"China and Shanghai has always been really good to me since my first race here back in 2007. It's a track that I really do love driving on.

"It's hard to put into words what it feels like."

Hamilton later said that Ferrari had altered his car's set-up for qualifying.

"We made some changes," Hamilton said.

"Nothing major, but the car was really hard to drive. It wasn't hugging the road."

Hamilton enjoyed clean air out in front of the pack during the sprint, but it was clear that tyre degradation was high for any cars trying to follow those in front closely.

"I don't know how that will affect the pace for tomorrow," said Hamilton, who will start on the third row alongside teammate Charles Leclerc.

"Everyone showed today it was really difficult to follow."

The second row for Sunday's main race will be filled by Piastri's teammate and championship leader Lando Norris and world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull.

- 'It means a lot' -

Isack Hadjar, Kimi Antonelli, Yuki Tsunoda and Alex Albon completed the top 10.

"It means a lot," said Piastri of his first grand prix pole position.

"We've been close a few times now. To have the first grand prix pole it did mean a bit more.

"Pretty pumped to be honest, I've worked hard for it," added the Australian, who was running second in his home race a week ago before a late spin.

"The start of the season has been strong, just obviously the result in Melbourne was a shame, but I feel like I've been doing a good job otherwise."

Russell was ecstatic to get on the front row alongside Piastri.

"Feels incredible to be honest," said the Englishman.

"Did something totally different on that last lap and it all came together."

Norris finally found some pace after coming eighth in the sprint.

"I'm always disappointed if I'm not on pole but Oscar deserves it today," said Norris, who won the season-opener in Australia last week.

Verstappen, who is chasing a fifth consecutive world championship, said he may need the front-runners to retire to have a chance in Sunday's race.

"We are not fast enough. It was tough. But we are working on it and trying to do better," said the Red Bull driver.

"I feel comfortable, confident, but sometimes my input is not what I'm getting back from the car and that makes it quite difficult to nail every corner."

His rookie teammate Liam Lawson continued his terrible start to life at Red Bull after crashing in Melbourne.

The New Zealander could not get his tyres working and for the second day running was last in qualifying.

"It's just really tough, honestly," said a downcast Lawson. "I just need to get on top of it."

Esteban Ocon will start 11th followed by Nico Hulkenberg, Fernando Alonso, Lance Stroll and Carlos Sainz.

Then come Pierre Gasly, Oliver Bearman, Jack Doohan, Gabriel Bortoleto and Lawson.

B.Brunner--NZN