F1 Chinese GP live commentary and updates - sprint race

So, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen on the front row, then it's Oscar Piastri and Charles Leclerc, followed by George Russell and Lando Norris on row three. Fil 'Cleeren Present Danger' has mulled over whether the McLarens can make up the deficit.

Norris blamed wind for his issues yesterday. A damning verdict on McLaren hospitality?

Lando Norris, McLaren

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

Aside from this blithering, Isack Hadjar and Pierre Gasly have the dread word 'NOTED' hanging over them on our info screens, owing to practice start infringements.

F1 TV obligingly supplies a replay of Hadjar taking off in the pitlane, but behind the white line rather than in front of it.

If he's punished, at least he knows he has to remain dry-eyed because Dr Helmut Marko won't be standing by with a handkerchief and soothing words of consolation.

You may think it sucks - but not as hard as he'll have to suck on that straw (see pic) to get any liquid out of that bottle. Sheesh!

Isack Hadjar, RB F1 Team

Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images

Anyway, enough of this BiaZ briTiSh JuRnuliZm. Today we have the first of six sprint races in the 2025 season. As always it's a curveball for the teams, who have just one practice session rather than three. FP2 and FP3 are replaced by sprint qualifying and the sprint race itself, which pays points down to eighth place. 

In theory this adds to unpredictability in the grand prix itself because the teams have less time to perfect their car setups. Especially this weekend, where the track has been resurfaced - so it will 'evolve' as rubber is laid down.

The sprint format remains divisive but the current iteration is arguably better for fans. In its original format, where finishing positions determined the grid for the grand prix, in effect it reset the grid in pace order - which fed in to making that race more processional.

On to the business of the day. As various people have mischievously noted – trigger warning! – this is the first time since the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have been alongside each other on the front row of the grid in 'equal' machinery.

There, we said it. Let the comments section burn...

Secondly, the brouhaha over Williams and its failure to supply footage from the FIA 'wing spy' cameras after practice has been resolved. The statement makes for extraordinary reading. Stand by if you had cheese last night, readers, for you will think you're in the grip of a cheese dream.

Essentially it was an IT fail. The teams who run these cameras during practice are picked at random. Williams did not know it had to supply its own SD cars to fit in the cameras.

The FIA document notes that the team saw a red light on the cameras during the session and "did not know what it meant". This was reported to technical delegate Jo Bauer by email. By then it was too late to fit an SD card anyway, even if there were a convenient branch of PC World nearby.

"There was no suggestion that the wings were not in compliance with the bodywork flexibility requirements," noted the FIA. 

The team has been fined €50,000 - €40,000 of which has been suspended until 31 December.

Read the manual next time, bozos!

Alex Albon, Williams runs wide

Photo by: Greg Baker - AFP - Getty Images

And we kick off with two pieces of news. Firstly Nico Hulkenberg will start the sprint race from the pitlane because the team worked on his car in parc ferme. It was a setup change.

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

Good morning, good afternoon, good evening wherever you are. Welcome to live text coverage of the sprint race from the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix weekend.