It’s unbelievable: Hamilton on clinching sprint pole in China

Lewis Hamilton is congratulated by his father after claiming pole position yesterday. Pic/AFP

A "gobsmacked" Lewis Hamilton obliterated the Shanghai lap record to claim pole position on Friday for the Chinese Grand Prix sprint in only his second race weekend with Ferrari.

Hamilton, who has won a record six Chinese GPs, flew around the resurfaced 5.451km Shanghai International Circuit in 1 minute 30.849 seconds. His lap easily beat the 1:32.238 set in 2004 at the inaugural Chinese GP by fellow seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, also in a Ferrari.

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Red Bull's reigning world champion Max Verstappen was second-fastest, 0.018 seconds behind Hamilton, while McLaren's Oscar Piastri was third. Charles Leclerc was fourth-fastest as Ferrari showed a big improvement from Melbourne, where Hamilton finished 10th and Leclerc eighth.

"I'm a bit gobsmacke, taken aback. I can't believe we are in front, ahead of a McLaren which has been so fast throughout winter testing, Australia and even today," said Hamiton. Last weekend's race-winner Lando Norris will start the sprint race from sixth place.

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