In a thrilling sprint qualifying session at the Chinese Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton claimed his first pole position with Ferrari, setting a new track record at the Shanghai International Circuit with a time of 1:30.849. The previous record, held by Sebastian Vettel at 1:31.095, had stood since 2018.

Hamilton edged out reigning world champion Max Verstappen by a mere 0.018 seconds, showcasing his exceptional form. Oscar Piastri of McLaren secured third place, while Hamilton's Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc, finished fourth. George Russell and Lando Norris of Mercedes and McLaren rounded out the top six, finishing fifth and sixth respectively.

This pole position marks a significant turnaround for Hamilton, who struggled in the previous race in Australia, finishing tenth. The sprint qualifying session determines the starting grid for Saturday's sprint race, which will cover 19 laps and offer additional championship points.