Hamilton Seizes Pole Position Over Norris in Fast-Charging China Race
Photo by Marcel van Dorst / EYE4IMAGES/NurPhoto via Getty Images Sam Bird had good things to say about Lewis Hamilton’s start to the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix Sprint, calling it “feisty” as the Ferrari driver went up against Lando Norris and George Russell. Hamilton wasted no time getting involved after a quick getaway from fourth on the grid, immediately mixing it up with his fellow Britons. Andrea Kimi Antonelli had started alongside Russell but fell back to ninth after a slow launch.
But Hamilton’s aggressive approach didn’t pay off in the end, as tyre wear became an issue and he slipped behind his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc. Both Ferrari drivers stopped under a late safety car, helping them lock down second and third, with Leclerc finishing nearly two seconds ahead. Russell took advantage of the situation, holding onto victory by less than a second over Leclerc after Nico Hulkenberg’s crash brought out the safety car with six laps remaining.
The race had originally been set for 19 laps but ended early due to timing constraints related to track repairs for Sunday’s main event. Lewis Hamilton ‘bullied’ Lando Norris for P2 at the start of the F1 Sprint in China Hamilton didn’t waste any time getting stuck in when the lights went out, wasting no time asserting himself against Lando Norris into Turn 2. Moments later, he was alongside George Russell at Turn 9, making another move stick before settling into his rhythm.
Bird went a step further, describing Hamilton’s move on Norris as a bit of bullying. The Ferrari driver squeezed down the inside and forced Norris wide, leaving him with little option but to back off and drop into third. The praise kept coming from Bird later in the opening lap when Hamilton made another bold move, this time diving down Russell’s inside at Turn 9 to take the early lead.
The two traded places until Lap 5, setting up an entertaining duel in the early stages of the race. “Flying start from Lewis Hamilton, and then bullied Lando Norris,” Bird said on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra. He added: “A feisty Lewis Hamilton!