Lewis Hamilton will start on pole position for Ferrari in the first Sprint race of the 2025 season in China. The race is scheduled for Saturday morning, live broadcast.
Following an exciting season opener in Melbourne, Formula 1 moves to Shanghai for the Chinese Grand Prix, the first of six Sprint weekends this year.
Against expectations after a challenging start with Ferrari, Hamilton impressively secured pole position in Sprint Qualifying on Friday. He will lead the grid ahead of Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri in his McLaren.
Lando Norris, currently leading the world championship, will start sixth for McLaren after a mistake on his final qualifying lap.
The Sprint race on Saturday is a 19-lap event at the Shanghai International Circuit, with points awarded to the top eight finishers. The 100km race begins at 3am, with pre-race coverage starting from 2:25am.
Qualifying for the main Grand Prix on Sunday will take place on Saturday morning at 7am.
The 56-lap Grand Prix is scheduled for Sunday at 7am, with pre-race build-up from 5:30am.
Chinese GP Track – Shanghai International Circuit
China joined the Formula 1 calendar in 2004, with all races held at the Shanghai International Circuit. This track is known for significant tyre wear and a long back straight that facilitates overtaking into the Turn 14 hairpin.
Formula 1 returned to Shanghai in 2024 after a five-year absence due to the coronavirus pandemic. Therefore, teams have less recent data about this track compared to others on the schedule.
The smooth track surface and fast, sweeping corners emphasize the importance of strong car aerodynamics.
Chinese GP Weather in Shanghai
The weather forecast for Shanghai indicates no rain during the Formula 1 and F1 Academy events throughout Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Sunny conditions are expected all weekend, with peak air temperatures reaching 23 degrees Celsius in the afternoon and light winds.
Chinese GP 2025 Schedule (UK Time)
Saturday, March 22
- 2:25am: Chinese GP Sprint build-up
- 3am: Chinese GP Sprint
- 5:45am: F1 Academy Race 1
- 6:35am: Chinese GP Qualifying build-up
- 7am: CHINESE GP QUALIFYING
- 9am: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday, March 23
- 2:40am: F1 Academy Race 2
- 5:30am: Chinese GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday
- 7am: THE CHINESE GRAND PRIX
- 9am: Chinese GP reaction: Chequered flag
- 10am: Ted’s Notebook
F1 Academy will also commence its season in Shanghai, offering a weekend full of racing action.
