2024 Chinese Grand Prix – Sprint race results (Shanghai)

Thomas Maher 20 Apr 2024 4:37 AM

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, leads on the first lap of the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix Sprint.

Check out the full results from the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix Sprint.

Here are the complete results from the Sprint race ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit.

A thrilling Sprint race unfolded at the Shanghai International Circuit ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, which was won by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

Max Verstappen comes out on top in Chinese GP Sprint

When the lights went out to start the Sprint, Lewis Hamilton responded slightly quicker than polesitter Lando Norris, and placed his Mercedes alongside the McLaren as the field swooped into Turn 1.

Norris ran wide through the corner and dropped down the order to seventh, while Hamilton held the lead of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

Holding station through the first half of the race, Verstappen appeared to take some time to get to grips with his car as he complained about running out of battery power as he spent more time worrying about an attack from Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz than chasing down Alonso.

But, eventually, Verstappen latched onto Alonso and cleared the Spaniard down the back straight. Now in second and hunting Hamilton, the seven-time F1 World Champion made a small error at the hairpin that allowed Verstappen onto his tail.

A lap later, Verstappen got past Hamilton and set about stretching his legs at the front to come home 13 seconds clear of his former title rival.

A thrilling battle emerged for the final podium position, with Alonso attempting to hold off Sainz, Perez, and Leclerc. But, while battling wheel-to-wheel with Sainz, Alonso picked up a puncture and was forced to pit and eventually retire.

With Perez pouncing to move up to third, the two Ferraris squabbled hard for position as Leclerc came out on top – none too pleased after feeling Sainz had pushed him wide at the hairpin.

Polesitter Norris came home in sixth, having enjoyed a clear pace advantage over McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri as the Australian finished seventh.

The final points place went to Mercedes’ George Russell, who ran the race on the soft tyre, while home hero Zhou Guanyu finished as the highest non-scorer by claiming ninth.