Max Verstappen beats Lewis Hamilton to win F1 Chinese sprint race

Max Verstappen has come from fourth to claim the first Formula 1 sprint race of the season.

The world champion methodically moved his way up the order during the 19-lap race in Shanghai, ahead of Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton in second, and Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez in third.

McLaren driver Lando Norris, who started the race on pole after qualifying fastest for the sprint on Friday, had a shocking start that ruined his race.

The young Briton was slower off the line than Hamilton — who started second — before being pushed wide by the seven-time world champion and going off track.

By the time Norris rejoined he was seventh, one place in front of Australian teammate Oscar Piastri.

At one stage Verstappen was two seconds behind the leader Hamilton and Fernando Alonso — who ultimately retired following a tyre puncture.

The Dutchman was complaining about battery power at that stage, but seemed to find pace soon afterwards.

"I think much better than I ever thought it would be in the race," Verstappen said, according to F1.com.

"Of course I wanted to win but I didn't think it was going to be like that.

"It just seemed like, after five or six laps, everyone went through their tyres a little bit and we really started to take off basically."

Piastri came home in seventh for McLaren, adding two more world championship points to his total.