Mercedes’ George Russell won the sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix after a frantic scrap in the early laps with Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari.
Russell and Hamilton swapped places five times in the first five laps before the winner of the first race of the season eased away to a comfortable victory.
Hamilton lost out to team-mate Charles Leclerc three laps after Russell finally passed him for the lead as the Ferraris took second and third.
A safety car in the second half of the race closed the field up and shuffled the pack a little, briefly dropping Hamilton behind McLaren’s Lando Norris.
But the seven-time champion reclaimed the lead around the outside of Turn One a lap after the restart.
Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli took fifth after dropping to eight following a slow start and then serving a 10-second penalty for causing a collision with Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar on the opening lap.
The Italian was passed by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri at the restart after there safety car but the Australian had to give the place back because he had overtaken before the start line.
More to follow
