F1: Ferrari's Hamilton takes pole for Chinese GP sprint

(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 21 - Lewis Hamilton on Friday bounced back from the disappointment of finishing 10th in his first race for Ferrari at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix by taking pole position for Chinese Grand Prix sprint race.
    The seven-time Formula One world champion from Britain clocked a new lap record at the Shanghai International Circuit to top the time-sheet ahead of Red Bull's reigning title-holder Max Verstappen.
    McLaren's Oscar Piastri was third and Hamilton's team-mate Charles Leclerc will be fourth on the grid.
    "I didn't expect that result but I'm so, so happy and so proud," Hamilton said.
    "I think the last race was a disaster for us, and clearly we knew that there was more performance in the car, but we just weren't able to extract it.
    "To come here to a track that I love, Shanghai, a beautiful place, the weather's been amazing and the car really came alive from Lap 1.
    "We made some great changes, the team did a fantastic job through the break to get the car ready.
    "I'm a bit in shock, I can't believe it's actually… we got a pole in the Sprint. "Obviously, it's not the main race so we've got work to do for tomorrow, but it puts us in good stead for the race." . (ANSA).