Max Verstappen went on the race track with a mercedes …
Max Verstappen wins first F1 sprint race of season at Chinese Grand Prix
- World champion beat Hamilton by 13 seconds in Shanghai Sprint
- Red Bull driver now leads Formula One standings by 15 points
Red Bull’s triple world champion Max Verstappen won the first sprint race of the Formula One season at the Chinese Grand Prix on Saturday. Verstappen beat Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton by 13.043 seconds in the 19-lap race at the Shanghai International Circuit to extend his championship lead over teammate Sergio Perez, who finished third.
Verstappen passed Hamilton on the ninth of 19 laps and then stretched out his lead to continue his F1 dominance in all formats. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz finished fourth and fifth.
“The first few laps were quite hectic,” Verstappen said. “Once I got in the lead the car was handling pretty well.”
The 26-year-old will be the favourite to win the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday, the fifth race of the season, after winning three of the first four races this year. Verstappen has also finished first in 21 of the 22 races last season.
