Hamilton voices 'shock' after major Ferrari breakthrough

Lewis Hamilton has voiced his "shock" after securing sprint pole ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix.

Hamilton secured his first sprint pole position since the 2021 British Grand Prix after setting a new lap record at the Shanghai International Circuit. 

McLaren had been the clear favourites going into the first sprint shootout of the season; however, Ferrari's strategy to set its first lap time closer to the end of the session worked better. 

Hamilton's SF-25 looked incredibly stable and resulted in a 1m 30.849, with rival Max Verstappen joining him on the front row. 

Securing sprint pole marked a fine way of bouncing back from a horrific season-opener in Australia, where Hamilton finished in a disappointing 10th. 

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

"So to come here to a track that I love, Shanghai, beautiful place, and the weather's been amazing, and the car really came alive from lap one. 

"We made some great changes, the team did a fantastic job through the break to get the car ready. And, yeah, I'm a bit in shock. 

"I can't believe it actually, we got a pole in a sprint. 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."

Hamilton race run unknown

Whilst sprint pole is a huge achievement so early into Hamilton's Ferrari career, he is aware of how difficult the sprint race and the grand prix will be. 

The 40-year-old is yet to complete a full race simulation in the dry for the Scuderia, having been unable to complete one in Bahrain during pre-season testing whilst the season-opener was wet. 

As a result, the sprint race and the grand prix will represent a new experience for the seven-time world champion.

"I didn't get to do a race run in Bahrain," revealed Hamilton. "Obviously, we did the race last weekend in in the wet. 

"But tomorrow will be kind of my first real long-ish run, or race run, and Sunday will be my first proper race run in the dry with this car. So I'll be learning. 

"I'm hoping that we can hold on to it, but I think the McLarens are very, very, very fast, as is Max [Verstappen], but we're in a good position. 

"We'll stay positive and keep our heads high and keep pushing forwards."