Lewis Hamilton has won his first race for Ferrari, ssecuring Saturday’s Sprint victory from pole position following an early duel with Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen at the Chinese Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Hamilton got a great start to take the lead into turn one, and managed the gap to Verstappen, until the Dutchman was passed for second on lap 15 by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri into the back straight’s hairpin.

Ferrari’s new recruit was then able to stretch his legs all the way to his maiden Sprint win, with the Brit coming home almost 6.9 seconds ahead of Piastri – for eight points (nine overall) and a three-place jump to seventh in the standings.

“The last like five laps or something I was in a really pretty comfortable position. It’s hard to put into words what it feels like,” Hamilton said.

“Obviously it’s a Sprint race, is not the main race, but even just think to get that — it’s just a good stepping stone to where I’m working towards.”

Hamilton arrived in Shanghai after a disappointing season-opening race last weekend in Australia, where he finished 10th in his debut race for Ferrari.

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