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      Liam Lawson facing axe just TWO races into F1 season as ruthless Red Bull eye rival driver to become Verstappen’s No2

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      LIAM LAWSON is reportedly facing the axe by ruthless Red Bull after his nightmare start to the season continued at the Chinese Grand Prix.The 23-year-old has endured a disastrous start after being promoted to Red Bull from sister outfit VCARB, now Racing Bulls, to replace Sergio Perez as Max Verstappen’s team-mate for this season.Liam Lawson could be facing the axe from Red Bull after just two racesCredit: AlamyRed Bull bosses are reportedly considering swapping him out of the seatCredit: GettyYuki Tsunoda is in line to be swapped into the seat at the Japanese Grand PrixCredit: SplashLawson crashed out of the Formula One season opener in Australia before finishing P14 in the Chinese GP Sprint and qualifying dead last at the Shanghai circuit.His weekend did not improve much as he finished P15 in the feature race, moving up one spot after the finish line after jumping Jack Doohan who had a 10-second time penalty for pushing Isack Hadjar off track.Lawson admitted on Saturday he “does not have time” to get to grips with the car and needed to improve.However, according to Motorsport he may not be given that chance with the outlet suggesting team bosses are considering swapping Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda for the Japanese Grand Prix.READ MORE IN F1Paddock sources indicated no final decision has been made ahead of the Suzuka race in two weeks time, but the possibility of a driver swap is likely.Tsunoda, 24, had an impressive season in 2024 and was the favourite to land the Red Bull seat alongside Verstappen before Lawson was handed the reigns.The Japanese driver impressed in Australia before a bad strategy call scuppered his chances of points at the season opener.He bounced back to score points with a P6 at China Sprint before finishing P19 today after being forced to pit following a front wing break.Most read in MotorsportBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKSpeaking to Sky Sports F1 after the race, Red Bull chief Christian Horner said of Lawson: “Well look, F1 is pressure business, there is always time pressure. “He knows that. Hopefully he’ll respond. We will see where we go.”F1 legend Eddie Jordan gives health update on prostrate cancer a month before he sadly passed away Lawson also faced further embarrassment today when Haas rookie Ollie Bearman overtook him and said “ciao” over the team radio before the teen raced to a P10 finish.The next race takes place on April 6 to kick off the first triple-header of the season with Bahrain and Saudi Arabia following in consecutive weeks.McLaren’s one-two finish today, with Oscar Piastri winning the third race of his F1 career, put them firmly in the lead of the Constructors’ Championship.Lando Norris leads the Drivers’ Championship by eight points ahead of Verstappen, who said he would only win the Chinese GP race if all the other cars in front of him retired. More

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      McLaren totally dominate as Piastri and Norris complete one-two in China with Hamilton having to settle for sixth

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      LANDO NORRIS’ title charge was dented by his own teammate Oscar Piastri who bagged his first win of the season in China.McLaren made another huge statement with a glittering one-two finish in Shanghai ahead of George Russell in third and Max Verstappen in fourth.Oscar Piastri won the third F1 race of his career with a dominant driveCredit: GettyPiastri and Lando Norris scored a 1-2 finish for McLaren ahead of George RussellCredit: ReutersPiastri pulled out an early lead and never looked backCredit: AFPLewis Hamilton was one of three drivers disqualified from the Chinese GPCredit: GettyNorris, who won the season opener in Melbourne and is the favourite to be crowned champion this season, has Piastri firmly in his rear-view mirror with the Aussie’s chances at lifting the title looking equally as strong.The two Ferraris of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc had finished P6 and P5 before they were both DISQUALIFIED after the race, with Hamilton falling foul of excessive skid block wear and Leclerc falling under the minimum weight limit.Piastri held off Russell to lead into Turn 1, while Norris nipped past the Mercedes into P2. Ferrari team-mates Hamilton and Leclerc made contact on a fiery opening lap at the front of the pack while Verstappen dropped back behind them. READ MORE IN F1The seven-time world champion said on his team radio: “I’ve been hit by someone” and there was visible damage on Leclerc’s front wing.Leclerc was told on the radio that he has “20 to 30 points” of downforce loss as a result of the damage to his front wing but he said he can survive until the first stop. Piastri settled into the lead of just and by lap three was just over one second ahead of Norris with Russell in third and Hamilton in fourth. Fernando Alonso suffered a nightmare race as he retired his Aston Martin on lap four with a brake issue. Most read in MotorsportBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKOver laps 14 and 15 the front runners headed for the pit-lane with Hamilton and Verstappen arriving first and rejoining in 10th and 12th respectively. McLaren brought in Piastri and Russell also came in, undercutting Norris, who stayed out an extra lap, as he reemerged from the pits.Lewis Hamilton has perfect response to dismal Ferrari debut as he achieves feat not seen for 35 years By lap 19 McLaren’s one-two was officially restored as Norris nipped past Russell and Alex Albon’s Williams down the backstraight.There was some debating over the two Ferraris with Hamilton coming on the blower to tell his team that he was struggling and holding Leclerc up. The Monegasque 27-year-old was driving like a madman and bizarrely had more pace than his Ferrari team-mate despite his front-wing damage. Hamilton ran the show though and was sassy with race engineer Riccardo Adami, saying “I’ll tell you when we stop” as he was catching Russell ahead of him. On lap 21, Hamilton finally let Leclerc through with the Ferraris snapping at Russell’s heels.There are clearly still some teething issues between Hamilton and Adami with their communications. Hamilton said on the team radio: “Give me some feedback guys. Come on, I need the feedback of where I’m losing.”Adami replied and Hamilton snapped, “Yeah, you told me that already”. The race transformed into a debate over strategies with talks of ‘Plan A, B, C’ flying over the radios on who would make the first move to stop before a warning of rain arrived. Chinese GP top 10 after disqualificationsAfter the triple disqualification of Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc and Pierre Gasly, here is the new top 10 standings:1) Oscar Piastri, McLaren2) Lando Norris, McLaren3) George Russell, Mercedes4) Max Verstappen, Red Bull5) Esteban Ocon, Haas6) Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes7) Alex Albon, Williams8) Oliver Bearman, Haas9) Lance Stroll, Aston Martin10) Carlos Sainz, WilliamsThere had barely been a peep out of Verstappen throughout and Gianpiero Lambiase said over the team radio “Good pace now Max. Better late than never.” “20 laps remaining, come on” as he hunted down Hamilton. Ferrari hauled in Hamilton for fresh tyres with him only losing one position to Verstappen in the process. Hamilton’s extra pit stop did not work, with him over a whopping 12 seconds behind Verstappen with six laps to go. Meanwhile, Norris was struggling with a brake pedal issue and old tyres as he dwindled behind his team-mate Piastri.Piastri led Norris by over three seconds, whose advantage over Russell was over six seconds, while Verstappen in fifth was snapping at Leclerc’s heels in fourth. With three laps to go, Verstappen finally got the job done on Leclerc with the two battling nose to tail in the closing stages. Further down the order Haas picked up their first points of the season with Esteban Ocon and Ollie Bearman finishing P5 and P8 with the Ferrari disqualifications, with the latter coming from P17 as he celebrated International Bear Day.Kimi Antonelli scored points again with a P6 finish, while Alex Albon finished P7 for Williams after briefly leading the race on his birthday.READ MORE SUN STORIESPierre Gasly, who originally finished P11, was also disqualified for being underweight, allowing Lance Stroll and Carlos Sainz to move up the order and into the points.Meanwhile, Liam Lawson’s nightmare start as Verstappen’s team-mate continued as he finished P12 (up three from the disqualifications), in part thanks to a 10-second time penalty for Alpine rookie Jack Doohan after he pushed Isack Hadjar off track at Turn 14. 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      F1 Chinese Grand Prix LIVE RESULTS: Lewis Hamilton looks to bounce back from disaster debut as Verstappen and Co feature

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      FORMULA ONE makes the trip up north to Asia after the new season debuted in Australia last week. Last time out, Lando Norris took home the chequered flag in a McLaren’s MCL39 that looks to be the envy of the entire grid. Four-time world champion Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ George Russell made up the rest of the podium. Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari debut failed to live up to expectations as he finished 10th at Albert Park.But the seven-time world champion has started the weekend brightly in China, claiming his first win for the Italian team in Saturday’s sprint race.Hamilton starts 5th on the grid on Sunday, while McClaren’s Oscar Piastri is on Pole.Race time: 7am GMTTV channel: Sky Sports F1Starting grid: 1. Oscar Piastri, 2. George Russell, 3. Lando Norris, 4. Max Verstappen, 5. Lewis Hamilton, 6. Charles Leclerc, 7. Isack Hadjar, 8. Kimi Antonelli, 9. Yuki Tsunoda, 10. Alex Albon, 11. Esteban Ocon, 12. Nico Hulkenberg, 13. Fernando Alonso, 14. Lance Stroll, 15. Carlos Sainz, 16. Pierre Gasly, 17. Ollie Bearman, 18. Jack Doohan, 19. Gabriel Bortoleto, 20. Liam LawsonBEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERSFollow our live blog for updates…How much do the drivers win?F1 is one of the most lucrative sports in the world – and they get a pretty penny for winning a race as well.Copy linkCopiedHamilton’s tacticsHamilton used all of his experience to win the Sprint earlier in the weekend.He shared the front row with Max Verstappen, and nobody can forget the huge fight they had for the title in 2021. But, Hamilton made sure he stayed just ahead of Verstappen, so he was forced to drive through dirty air.Copy linkCopiedRemembering Eddie JordanThis weekend marks the first weekend of racing since the passing of the legendary Eddie Jordan.Drivers such as Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna raced for Jordan, who had a huge impact on the sport.Copy linkCopiedFull starting gridOscar PiastriGeorge RussellLando NorrisMax VerstappenLewis HamiltonCharles LeclercIsack HadjarKimi Antonelli Yuki TsunodaAlex AlbonEsteban OconNico HulkenbergFernando AlonsoLance StrollCarlos SainzPierre GaslyOliver BearmanJack DoohanGabriel BortoletoLiam LawsonCopy linkCopiedWelcome to SunSport’s coverage of the Chinese Grand Prix!The 2025 F1 season has already seen a lot of twists, with the Chinese GP seeing a third different pole sitter in three races.McLaren’s pace at the front has given them a second pole in two GP’s, as Aussie Oscar Piastri will start at the front, after Lando Norris was there last week.Between them was Lewis Hamilton in yesterday’s sprint, as he converted a pole to a win, and Piastri came home second.Defending four-time world champion Max Verstappen is still waiting for his first win of the season.Just to add to the drama, Mercedes driver George Russell has split the McLaren’s, and starts second in the GP. Remember: in the UK, the race starts at 7am, so get your alarms set!Copy linkCopied More

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      The stunning celebs you forgot were F1 grid girls – from I’m a Celeb legends to soap heartthrob and Ted Lasso star

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      THEY were the stunning models who lived life in the fast lane – both on and off the track.But after going on to become TV stars, reality TV bombshells and even the owner of an animal sanctuary, you might have forgotten these stunning celebs who once posed as grid girls.Katie paid tribute to Eddie who got her involved in F1 as a grid girlCredit: PAEddie was one of the driving forces behind the women being brought into the sportCredit: RexOn the grid, Katie was known as her alter-ego JordanCredit: GettyKatie said his death was a great loss to the paddockCredit: PA:Press AssociationThis week, Katie Price’s fans were stunned to see gorgeous throwback snaps of her with the late F1 boss Eddie Jordan, who has sadly died at the age of 76.The glamour model, 46, became a grid girl under the motor racing legend’s tenure back in 1998 when she was aged just 19.Eddie pioneered the introduction of the glamorous women, and Katie even did a stunt for his team Jordan where she straddled one of the F1 cars. Here, we have a look at the other celebs who gave their blossoming careers a boost as a motoring hostess.Nell McAndrewBack in the 1990s, Nell was known for her outrageous behaviour and incredible modelling shoots, so it’s no wonder F1 snapped her up. Eddie convinced the beauty, now 51, to pose for a sizzling series of photos with one of his F1 cars in 2004.In the snaps, she is seen sprawled out in a yellow bikini over the pricey motor, while in another she channels Uma Thurman in Kill Bill, swishing around with a sword and slick jumpsuit.It’s certainly a far cry from her days now as a marathon runner.Lizzie Cundy says being a grid girl was ‘the best job she ever had’ on Good Morning BritainFellow glamour model Nell posed for a photo shoot with one of Eddie’s carsCredit: GettyShe channelled her best Kill Bill vibes for the fun shootCredit: GettyJodie MarshKatie’s long-time nemesis Jodie Marsh made a special guest appearance as a grid girl back in 2003. The former glamour model, now 46, graced the paddock and track at Silverstone to promote Playstation 2 game Formula One.Jodie made a special apperance as the face of PlayStation 2’s new F1 gameCredit: GettyJodie also knew F1 legend Eddie Jordan from her brief stint as a grid girlCredit: ReutersShe opted to wear a driver’s jumpsuit tied at her waist rather than a classic skimpy skirt, and in her special guest appearance on the track, she planted a kiss on Eddie’s cheek.Nowadays, Jodie has traded her hard partying socialite reputation for a new life running an animal sanctuary. And this week, the down-to-earth star joked she’s “fat but happier than ever”.Keeley HazellKeeley also appeared briefly as a grid girl to promote a video gameCredit: AlamyShe posed for photos with F1 drivers Tiago Monteiro (L) and Christijan Albers (C)Credit: GettyThese days you’re most likely to recognise Keeley as Ted Lasso’s Bex but back in the day, she was a lads’ mag favourite who also turned heads on the F1 track.The 38-year-old made her debut as a grid girl in 2003 at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone – leaving fans delighted.Like Jodie Marsh, she turned up to promote PlayStation’s Formula One game, which saw her perch on the Midland F1 team car. It certainly was a gear change from her usual Page 3 shoots.Gemma AtkinsonGemma was named the face of the British Grand Prix in 2007Credit: GettyThe model told how she was a big fan of the sportCredit: GettyBefore Strictly Come Dancing fame, Gemma, now 40, was unveiled in 2007 as the ‘female face’ of the British Grand Prix.At the time, the Hollyoaks star said: “I’m a massive F1 fan and this is my first time at the British Grand Prix. I’m really excited to be here as the female face of the British Grand Prix.“The atmosphere here at Silverstone is incredible! It is an unbelievable experience and I never imagined I’d get so close to the action. I’m so thrilled to be here.”Just a few months later, she was snapped up for I’m A Celeb and from there her star has continued to rise. Melinda MessengerMelinda doesn’t look back on her time as a grid girl in a positive mannerCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdShe posed up with drivers and fellow glamour model Katie PriceCredit: AlamyLike fellow Page Three girls Jodie and Keely, Melinda made an appearance at the British Grand Prix to promote an F1 video game. She wasted no time getting cosy with drivers Ralph Schumacher and Damon Hill in the pits during a practice run in 1998.Melinda became a regular fixture, but she doesn’t look back on the time positively. She told The Sun: “I was willingly exploiting myself, don’t forget. I was quite happy to go and get paid to look glamorous. So that’s a self-exploitation.”Lucy PinderLucy proved a big hit when she posed next to F1 cars back in 2005Credit: AlamyLucy posed up to promote a video game with pal Michelle MarshCredit: Getty Images – GettyLucy, 41, has turned her talents to acting in recent years, but at the height of her glamour girl fame she made a special appearance on the F1 grid.Alongside pal Michelle Marsh, she turned up at Silverstone in 2005.And even the drivers were fans of the beauties, with former F1 champ Fernando Alonso looking delighted while getting a picture with the girls. She also made appearances as a gird girl at the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport back in 2009. Michelle MarshOutsiding of posing for F1, Michelle and Lucy also appeared with bikes for RiskologyCredit: AlamyPage 3 blonde Michelle, now 42, turned up on the track alongside Lucy back in 2005. After being announced as the face of PlayStation’s F1 game, she posed for a series of photos on a F1 car, many showing off her ample cleavage. In a photo of her and Lucy with driver Fernando Alonso, the motor head is seen to peer down Lucy’s top. The pairing certainly proved a hit that year. Olivia AttwoodOlivia wasn’t an F1 girl, instead she posed for Monster at Motorsport eventsShe claims the job saved her life and put her on the path to fameOutspoken Olivia found fame appearing on Love Island back in 2017, but before then she was touring the world as a Motorsport grid girl for Monster Energy.Sadly, she never made it to the prestigious F1 paddock, but isn’t ashamed of her brolly dolly days, claiming it saved her life.Olivia blasted F1 bosses’ decision to axe the grid girls in 2018, saying: “They’re taking the fun, glamour, and extravagance out of absolutely everything – where does it end? If you got a mechanic to hold a brolly over the bike on the track, how boring’s that?”She later told The Sunday Times: “That job saved my life. I travelled the world, it gave me discipline, I met amazing people, so to me, it’d be pretty sad to think someone else wouldn’t get that opportunity.”Lucy Pinder and Michelle Marsh pose with F1 drivers at the British Grand PrixCredit: GettyMelinda Messenger, Katie Price and Emma Noble launched the F1 racing season for team JordanCredit: PA:Press Association More

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      Ferrari chief hints at secret tactic employed by Lewis Hamilton to disrupt major F1 rival Max Verstappen

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      FERRARI chief Fred Vasseur appears to have leaked the secret tactic Lewis Hamilton used to win the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint race.Hamilton won his first race for Ferrari after becoming the first driver over the age of 40 to claim pole in a Formula One race since Nigel Mansell in 1994.Lewis Hamilton won his first Ferrari race at the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint raceCredit: GettyHamilton an incredible tactic to help him overcome rival Max VerstappenCredit: GettyFerrari chief Fred Vasseur has revealed what tactic Hamilton used to win the raceCredit: ReutersThe Brit shared the front row with Max Verstappen at the Shanghai circuit and managed to keep his old rival at bay going into Turn 1 before controlling the race from there.Hamilton appeared to struggle to create a significant advantage over the Dutchman, who for some time remained just out of striking distance behind him.As the Sprint race progressed, Hamilton then began to pull away from Verstappen, who was eventually overtaken by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.The seven-time world champion eventually finished more than six seconds ahead of the second-place Aussie with Verstappen in third.READ MORE IN F1Hamilton was praised by engineer Riccardo Adami for a “masterclass in tyre management”.But Scuderia team principal Vasseur has revealed how Hamilton deployed a brilliant tactic to win the Shanghai Sprint race.He explained Hamilton intentionally stayed just a little in front of Verstappen in the early stages to ensure the Red Bull driver was forced to drive through “dirty air” which forced him to burn through his tyres quicker.Vasseur told Canal+: “Hamilton was under control. Starting in front helps. We must not try to draw too many conclusions from this race – because it is too early. Most read in MotorsportBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK”I don’t want to say that Lewis had an easy race, but he was in control from the beginning. At a certain point it allowed Verstappen to come back a little, but also causing him to damage his tyres. “He had clean air throughout the race, was able to push towards the end and finished the race with a 7-second lead over Piastri.”Behind the scenes in Australia GP paddock including F1 star Lewis Hamilton’s new Ferrari baseHe added: “If you’re second at the start, it becomes more difficult, because you look dirty, you have to damage your tyres and when you approach someone else, if you can’t overcome it, then you have problems. “Lewis managed the race well: he let Verstappen take it back and damaged the tyres at that stage, while he had a bit of a reserve in his pocket.”Yap yapHamilton hit back at his “yapping critics” following his maiden Ferrari win, before landing P5 in qualifying for Sunday’s feature race.His former engineer, Peter Bonnington, had an awkward gaffe on the team radio to Kimi Antonelli as he accidentally said: “Copy that, Lewis,” before correcting himself to say: “Copy that, Kimi.”Piastri, who was second in the Sprint, claimed pole position for tomorrow’s race and beat Hamilton’s record-breaking lap set during Sprint qualifying with a time of 1:30.641.What is ‘dirty air’ and how does it affect tyres?What is dirty air?In F1, dirty air is a term used to describe the turbulent air left behind by a racing car as it moves forward at high speed and disrupting airflow.Following a car behind on a straight creates a slipstream because there is less air resistance for the car immediately behind, allowing an F1 cars aerodynamic performance to be maximised.However, this phenomenon is reversed going into corners as the car behind has to push through the disrupted air flow left by the car in front, creating less downforce and therefore less grip.Why does this damage tyres?Less downforce for the cars aerodynamic performance means the tyres are being made to work harder to turn the car at the high speeds F1 machines move at.With the tyres working harder, this puts more strain on them and therefore uses up the grip on the tyres far quicker than it would in clean air.This wear on the tyres and disruption of the airflow can make it very difficult for an F1 car to overtake.The 2026 car regulations for F1 have heavily tried to lower the impact dirty air can have on performance to allow for more competitive racing. More

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      ‘Copy that, Lewis’ – Hamilton’s former Mercedes race engineer in awkward radio slip-up before quickly correcting himself

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      LEWIS HAMILTON’s former engineer at Mercedes had an awkward radio slip up at the Chinese Grand Prix.Hamilton, 40, stunned the world when he announced in early 2024 that he was leaving the Silver Arrows to join Ferrari for 2025.Lewis Hamilton’s old race engineer Peter Bonnington had an awkward radio slip up at the Chinese Grand PrixCredit: GettyHamilton left Mercedes to join Ferrari, ending an 11-year partnership with BonningtonCredit: AlamyBut while speaking to Kimi Antonelli during qualifying at the Chinese Grand Prix he accidentally said ‘copy that, Lewis’Credit: Sky SportsHamilton and Bonnington won six Driver championships togetherCredit: AFP or licensorsThe move ended an 11-year partnership between Hamilton and engineer, Peter Bonnington, otherwise known as Bono.Together they won six Drivers’ Championship titles, but did not make the switch over to join Hamilton at the Scuderia thanks to a no-poaching clause.Hamilton was replaced at the Brackley-based team by teen star Kimi Antonelli for the upcoming season.However, it appears old habits die hard after Bonnington had an awkward slip up on the radio with Antonelli.READ MORE IN F1During qualifying in Shanghai, Antonelli can be seen racing the car around Turn 13 on a slow lap and speaking to Bonnington about a problem when the engineer makes the mistake.He is heard saying: “Yeah. Copy that, Lewis.”Realising his gaffe, the 50-year-old then said: “Uhh Yeah, copy that Kimi..”Antonelli went on qualify P8 in the session, while Hamilton qualified P5 for Sunday’s race after winning the Sprint race earlier on.Most read in MotorsportBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKHamilton confirmed he held a meeting with his new race engineer Riccardo Adami at the start of the week after an X-rated blast down the radio during a frustrating Australian Grand Prix.He revealed they spoke about how Hamilton wanted to be communicated with when racing, with the move seemingly working wonders as he dominated the 19-lap Sprint race.’I’m about to cry’ – Fans praise Lewis Hamilton’s dad for classy gesture as he consoles F1 rookie after debut crashOn the cool-down lap Adami was heard praising Hamilton for a “masterclass in tyre management”.Speaking after the Sprint, Hamilton had hit back at his “yapping critics” in China.Bonnington, promoted to head of race engineering at Mercedes for 2025, also worked with Michael Schumacher at the team before Hamilton joined in 2013.Adami worked with Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz before Hamilton.Tomorrow’s feature race sees McLaren ace Oscar Piastri on pole after he bettered Hamilton’s record-breaking lap around the Shanghai circuit with a time of 1:30.641.Hamilton’s old team-mates George Russell claimed second to deny McLaren a front row lock-out with Lando Norris qualifying third.READ MORE SUN STORIESReigning world champion Max Verstappen qualified fifth, while his team-mate Liam Lawson suffered another nightmare session as he came dead last.Following disastrous result Lawson admitted he “don’t really have time” to get to grips with the car and declared he needs to dramatically improve.Chinese Grand Prix qualifying grid positions1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:30.6412. George Russell (Mercedes)3. Lando Norris (McLaren)4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)5. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)6. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)7. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)8. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)9. Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls)10. Alex Albon (Williams)11. Esteban Ocon (Haas)12. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)13. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)14. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)15. Carlos Sainz (Williams)16. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)17. Oliver Bearman (Haas)18. Jack Doohan (Alpine)19. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)20. Liam Lawson (Red Bull) More

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      Lewis Hamilton hailed for ‘masterclass’ Sprint victory before Ferrari star immediately takes aim at ‘yapping’ critics

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      LEWIS HAMILTON fired back at “yapping” critics after sealing his first Ferrari win on just the second race weekend.The 40-year-old British driver has entered a new era as he bagged his first-ever Sprint win since the new format began in 2021.Lewis Hamilton won his first race for Ferrari at the Chinese Grand Prix SprintCredit: RexHamilton battled Max Verstappen off the line but was quicker than his old rivalCredit: GettyHe was praised by his engineer for a ‘masterclass in tyre management’Credit: RexHe then hit back at his ‘yapping’ criticsCredit: ReutersMcLaren’s Oscar Piastri took pole for the feature race ahead of Mercedes’ George RussellCredit: AFPTo make victory even sweeter, Hamilton held off his old foe Max Verstappen who finished third but started in P2, while Oscar Piastri finished second.Hamilton’s win was a huge statement as he finished the 19-lap sprint a whopping 6.8 seconds ahead of the Aussie McLaren driver.After crossing the line he was praised by engineer Riccardo Adami for a “masterclass in tyre management”.Piastri hit back in qualifying as he took pole position for Sunday’s race while George Russell’s Mercedes nipped between him and his McLaren team-mate Lando Norris, while Verstappen finished in fourth and Hamilton fifth.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAfter the Sprint win, Hamilton took another dig at his critics following his disappointing season opener in Melbourne last weekend.He said: “The first race was difficult and obviously, I think I really do feel a lot of people underestimated the steep climb it is to get into a new team,“To become acclimatized within the team and understanding communication and all sorts of things.”The amount of critics and people I’ve heard yapping along the way just clearly not understanding.Most read in MotorsportJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS“Maybe they’ve never had the experience or just unaware, so it’s felt great to come here and feel comfortable in the car, because in Melbourne I didn’t feel comfortable in the car.”The Ferrari driver had started on pole – the first Brit to achieve the feat for the team since Nigel Mansell in 1990 – after setting a new track record for the Shanghai International Circuit on Friday.Lewis Hamilton has perfect response to dismal Ferrari debut as he achieves feat not seen for 35 years Hamilton batted away Verstappen going into Turn 1 and then for the first 10 laps of the sprint.He had then built enough of a gap to storm over the line after Piastri had passed the Dutchman with four laps to go.Hamilton finished a disappointing tenth in Melbourne last weekend after qualifying in P8.He bagged a cushty eight points for winning the Sprint in China, which has propelled him up the standings.But Hamilton has urged Ferrari’s boisterous Tifosi fanbase to remain calm.He added: “I know the Tifosi, the fans, the team want to win, and it means everything to them,”But I said the other day, Rome wasn’t built in one day, one step at a time and we’re not going to get ahead of ourselves.READ MORE SUN STORIES”We’re going to continue to push, be diligent, remain focused, stay calm – most importantly stay calm – because these moments get everyone excited.”But we’ll be back at our desks after this, focused on qualifying. It’s a long, long way. It’s a marathon, not a sprint so we’ve just got to take our time.”Chinese Grand Prix qualifying grid positions1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:30.6412. George Russell (Mercedes)3. Lando Norris (McLaren)4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)5. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)6. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)7. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)8. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)9. Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls)10. Alex Albon (Williams)11. Esteban Ocon (Haas)12. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)13. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)14. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)15. Carlos Sainz (Williams)16. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)17. Oliver Bearman (Haas)18. Jack Doohan (Alpine)19. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)20. Liam Lawson (Red Bull) More

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      Lewis Hamilton baffles fans with ‘San Diego’ codeword as Ferrari star earns incredible Sprint pole position in China

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      LEWIS HAMILTON left fans baffled with a cryptic radio message after achieving Formula One Sprint pole at the Chinese Grand Prix.Hamilton raced over the line in a new track record time of 1:30.849, edging out old rival Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.Lewis Hamilton raced to a record-breaking lap time in China to win Sprint poleCredit: RexIt was his first Ferrari pole after a horror weekend in AustraliaCredit: GettyHamilton laughed on the radio after finding out he was on poleCredit: GettyBut a codeword used by engineer Riccardo Adami left fans baffledCredit: GettyHis maiden pole for the Scuderia saw him become the first F1 driver over the age of 40 to achieve pole since Nigel Mansell in 1994, and also the first Brit to score pole for the team since Mansell in 1990.Hamilton was stunned at the pace he got from the car following a horror debut at the season opening Australian Grand Prix when he finished down in P10.Speaking to engineer Riccardo Adami after crossing the line, Hamilton was heard laughing at being told he was on pole for the Sprint.However, a phrase used by Adami left fans baffled.READ MORE IN F1Hamilton asked: “Where are we?”Adami then replied: “That’s San Diego.”Hamilton said: “Really? [Laughing] Yes!”Adami added: “Good job in San Diego, San Diego!”Most read in MotorsportJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSFans flocked to social media to query what the phrase meant, with it presumably not referring to the city located in California, USA.It is not currently clear why the term was used, though it appears to be a codeword for pole position.Behind the scenes in Australia GP paddock including F1 star Lewis Hamilton’s new Ferrari baseSunSport have contacted Ferrari for clarification.Codewords are nothing new to F1 drivers. Hamilton and Mercedes engineer famously used the phrase “Hammer time” when he was told to push the car to go faster during a race.He celebrated with his dad Anthony.Speaking after the session, Hamilton said: “I didn’t expect that result but so, so happy and so proud.”Clearly the last race was a disaster for us but we knew there was more pace in the car.”I’m a bit shocked. I can’t believe we got a pole in the Sprint!”READ MORE SUN STORIESHamilton can win up to eight points for winning the Sprint Race, which commences tomorrow at 3am UK time.Qualifying for the feature race will take place from 7am, with the full race happening at 7am on Sunday. More