Max Verstappen won the first sprint race in 2024 this Saturday in China, scene of the fifth round of the F1 season. Yet fourth at the start, the three-time world champion wins in front Lewis Hamilton et Sergio Perez. The Ferraris of Charles Leclerc et Carlos Sainz complete the top 5.
In the first meters, le poleman Lando Norris was overtaken by Hamilton before making a mistake and ruining his chances of victory. While the seven-time world champion takes control in front Fernando Alonso. Behind, Verstappen and Sainz are fighting for third place.
But the Dutchman begins to find a good rhythm and distances himself from the Ferrari to get closer to Alonso, whom he ends up passing on the seventh lap. Two short laps later, the Hasselt native overtook Hamilton to take the lead in the sprint race.
Verstappen was never again worried and thus won the first sprint race of the season, while behind the fight raged for third place between Alonso, Pérez and the Ferraris. But ultimately it is the Mexican who has the last word. The big loser of the day being the Aston Martin driver, who returned to the pits after a puncture three laps from the end following contact with his compatriot. The double world champion ended up giving up a few minutes later.
See you now from 8h55 for a qualifying session to follow live on Tipik.