Max Verstappen has recovered from fourth place to win the first sprint race of the Formula 1 season.
The world champion methodically moved up the order during the 19-lap race in Shanghai, ahead of Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton in second and Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez in third.
McLaren driver Lando Norris, who started the race from pole after qualifying fastest for the sprint on Friday, made a shocking start that ruined his race.
The young Briton started slower than Hamilton, who started second, before being pushed by the seven-time world champion and going off the track.
When Norris rejoined, he was seventh, one place ahead of fellow Australian Oscar Piastri.
At one point, Verstappen was two seconds behind leader Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, who eventually retired after a puncture.
The Dutchman was complaining about the drums at the time, but seemed to find his groove soon after.
“I think it would be a lot 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 would be like that.
“It seemed like, after five or six laps, everyone checked their tires a little bit and we basically started taking off.”
Piastri finished seventh for McLaren, adding two more points to his world championship total.
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