Lewis Hamilton expressed his astonishment after securing pole position for the sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix, marking only his second race weekend with Ferrari. The seven-time world champion edged out Max Verstappen by a mere 0.018 seconds, showcasing a remarkable turnaround from his 10th place finish at the Australian Grand Prix.

Hamilton shared his excitement after the qualifying session:

I didn't expect that result," he said. "But so, so happy and so proud. I think obviously the last race was a disaster for us. And clearly we knew that there was more performance in the car, we just weren't able to extract it.

He highlighted the strategic improvements made by the team:

We made some great changes, the team did a fantastic job through the break to get the car ready. I'm a bit in shock. I can't believe we got a pole in the sprint.

Looking ahead to the rest of the weekend, Hamilton remains cautious but optimistic:

It's obviously not the main race, so we've got work to do for tomorrow. But this puts us in good stead for the race.

Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, who will start fourth, acknowledged his struggles but remains hopeful for a strong race performance. The Chinese Grand Prix continues to be a pivotal event in the F1 calendar, with teams and drivers pushing the limits to secure crucial points early in the season.

For more updates and in-depth analysis, stay tuned to our comprehensive coverage of the F1 season.

Key Takeaways

• Hamilton's First Ferrari Pole: Marking a significant achievement in his Ferrari career.
• Team Strategy: Ferrari's strategic adjustments prove crucial.
• Upcoming Races: With the main race yet to come, all eyes will be on Ferrari's performance.