Formula 1: George Russell wins ‘pretty fun’ sprint race for Mercedes at Chinese Grand Prix
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished second and third, while an angry Max Verstappen of Red Bull ended up in ninth
George Russell won “a pretty fun” sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix on Saturday, as the Mercedes driver continued his early-season dominance by leading home both Ferraris to extend his world championship lead.
Russell enjoyed a ding-dong battle in the opening laps with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, as the pair traded places at the front several times.
Later he had to fend off the second Ferrari of Charles Leclerc after a late safety car, with the Monegasque driver coming home second and Hamilton in third.
“It was pretty fun in the end, lots of strategy at play on how to do the overtakes,” said Russell, who won the opening grand prix in Melbourne last weekend.
“It is not easy, I hope it was a fun race to watch. Usually the sprint races are pretty boring.”
Russell also said Formula 1’s new engine and chassis regulations made racing feel more like karting.