P1racenews AI automatic summary:
F1 Chinese GP: Verstappen passes Hamilton to win first sprint of 2024
The championship leader struggled at the start due to issues with charging his battery with the hybrid settings, but managed to rectify the problem with changes on his steering wheel. Verstappen made a brilliant comeback, overtaking Alonso and then challenging Hamilton for the lead after a lock-up at Turn 14. Hamilton defended his position well against Norris, who ultimately dropped to seventh after a fierce battle with the Mercedes driver.
Verstappen capitalized on Hamilton’s mistake and took the lead on the ninth lap, pulling away with a significant pace advantage. Hamilton settled for second place, while Perez secured third in a thrilling battle with Alonso and the Ferrari drivers. Alonso’s race ended prematurely due to a puncture after contact with Sainz, while Norris finished in sixth position ahead of his teammate Piastri.
George Russell took a gamble with soft tires to finish in eighth place, ahead of home favorite Zhou Guanyu who claimed the final point.
