Hamilton wants a faster Ferrari to challenge McLaren at F1’s sprint weekend in China

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain, left, chats with his teammate Charles Leclerc of Monaco as they walk out from their team’s hospitality suite ahead of the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix, in Shanghai, Friday. (AP)

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Updated 21 March 2025

March 21, 2025 07:51

Hamilton wants a faster Ferrari to challenge McLaren at F1’s sprint weekend in China

For seven-time world champion Hamilton, China is a chance for a reset after a difficult Ferrari debut at Melbourne’s Albert Park last weekend
China’s Sprint weekend format will be another challenge for F1’s six rookies

Updated 21 March 2025

March 21, 2025 07:51

SHANGHAI: McLaren’s dominance, Lewis Hamilton’s bid to bounce back after a disappointing debut for Ferrari, and the death of Eddie Jordan have generated headlines as Formula 1 prepares for its first Sprint weekend of the season at the Chinese Grand Prix.

Lando Norris arrived in Shanghai atop the drivers’ standings for the first time following his win at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix last Sunday, but it was his qualifying pace for McLaren — and not just holding off Red Bull’s Max Verstappen — that had his rivals on edge ahead of practice.

McLaren’s pace

Mercedes driver George Russell went so far as to say McLaren could win every race this season, describing its raw pace advantage as “bigger than Red Bull has ever had.” But, while Norris’ teammate Oscar Piastri strongly refuted the claim — stating the form would change between rounds — the rest of the paddock wasn’t so sure.

“They’re definitely ahead,” Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc said. “The gap in qualifying, the gap that there was (in Australia, 0.385sec to the nearest non-McLaren) is more or less what there is.”

“I think we are around Mercedes and Red Bull in terms of lap times if we put everything together,” Leclearc said, “so there’s still a big chunk to get McLaren then.”

It’s unclear if a new technical directive will shuffle the order in China, with FIA, the sport’s governing body, cracking down on rear wing flexing with a tougher static load test.

None of the drivers were forthcoming, as to what triggered the FIA’s new interpretation, or who it was most expected to impact.

“We don’t have to change anything,” Norris said. “Ours is fine. In fact, ours was probably too good, and we probably weren’t pushing the limits enough. If this technical directive had been applied last weekend, we would’ve been fine.

“It seems to be directed (at) other teams, which probably means we should push it a little bit more.”

Hamilton primed for improvement

For seven-time world champion Hamilton, China is a chance for a reset after a difficult Ferrari debut at Melbourne’s Albert Park last weekend, where he qualified eighth, briefly took the lead, but couldn’t hold onto it because of the team’s tire strategy.

But the 40-year-old, who is F1’s most successful driver with a record 105 GP wins and 104 pole positions, says he still needs more time to bring the full force of his experience to his new team.

“As I get more comfortable and more knowledgeable about the car, I can start making more decisions,” Hamilton said of his preferred set up. “I’m having those discussions, and I’m going to lean a little bit more with adding my experience hopefully a bit more in it.”

Hamilton is hopeful that the Australian GP was an outlier for him and for Ferrari.

“I hope so,” he said. “I think our car looked pretty decent on Friday (in Australia) and even on Saturday morning. So, I think it’s a bit of a one-off.”

Another tough test for F1’s rookies

China’s Sprint weekend format will be another challenge for F1’s six rookies. The track has been completely resurfaced and there’s just one practice session, making it more difficult to get a baseline setup before Sprint qualifying.

Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli said it feels like a return to F2, with its compacted schedule, but the Italian knows what he has to do

“You want to finish free practice and say ‘Okay, like I got to a good level of driving. I’m not so far from the limit and I know where I have to make the step for qualifying,’” Antonelli said. “The important thing is going to be to get as close as possible to the limit without making any big mistakes.”

At Racing Bulls, Isack Hadjar is ready to put the pain of Melbourne behind him, having put his car into the Turn 2 barrier on the formation lap.

In the aftermath of his crash, Hadjar was seen walking back to the garage crying with his hands up to his helmet. Red Bull motorsport consultant Doctor Helmut Marko said it was embarrassing, but Hamilton’s father, Anthony, sought Hadjar out for some reassuring words.

“It was a nice moment, sharing time with someone like Anthony as well — obviously, the dad of my idol,” Hadjar said. “So that was quite a special moment. And Lewis sent me a message later that day. Really classy guys.”

RIP Eddie Jordan

Sadness descended on the F1 community on Thursday with news that ex-team owner Eddie Jordan had died.

Beloved throughout the sport “EJ” ran the Jordan team from 1991 to 2005. His humor, strong opinions and deep contacts made Jordan a popular media pundit after he sold the team – with his most recent project being the “Formula for Success” podcast he co-hosted with ex-F1 driver David Coulthard.

The 76-year-old Jordan also acted as the manager for design great Adrian Newey when he left Red Bull for Aston Martin last year.

Jordan was undergoing cancer treatment before he died. His family issued a statement, published by rugby club London Irish, where Jordan was a patron, to say he “passed away peacefully with family by his side in Cape Town.”

Sky Sports commentator Martin Brundle, who drove for Jordan in 1996, led the emotional tributes from the sport.

“What a character. What a rock star. What a racer,” Brundle posted on social media. “So many drivers owe you so much, you gave us our chances and believed in us.”

Racing

The first Sprint weekend for 2025 begins at the Shanghai International Circuit on Friday, with a single practice session at 11.30 a.m. local time (0330 GMT) before sprint qualifying at 3.30 p.m. (0730 GMT).

Topics: Lewis Hamilton Formula 1

In Morocco, exiled Afghan women footballers find hope on the pitch

Updated 05 November 2025

AFP

November 05, 2025 00:17

In Morocco, exiled Afghan women footballers find hope on the pitch

The team played their first international matches at the FIFA Unites: Women’s Series late last month in Morocco
Twenty-year-old midfielder Mina Ahmadi said “a dream was taken away from us” back home, “but when FIFA recognized us, it was as if a part of that dream came true“

Updated 05 November 2025

AFP

November 05, 2025 00:17

CASABLANCA: Manoozh Noori said she “wanted to die” when the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021. That meant she could no longer do what she loved most: playing football.
Noori, now 22, fled the country where the United Nations say authorities have implemented a “gender apartheid,” and has been playing in a team of Afghan refugee women, recently taking part in a first-of-its-kind tournament in Morocco.
“I had asked myself: do I want to stay in this country with people who want to forbid women from studying, from playing football, from doing anything?” Noori told AFP.
The Taliban authorities, who say that women’s rights are protected by Islamic law, have banned girls and women from schools beyond the age of 12, and also from most jobs and public services — and from playing sports.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino sees Afghan Women United’s “beautiful story” at FIFA Unites: Women’s Series 2025

— FIFA Media (@fifamedia)

Noori had defied family pressure to represent Afghanistan professionally by playing for the country’s national women’s squad before a Taliban government returned to power.
She said she buried her trophies and medals in her family’s backyard and left the country for Australia.
Noori’s team, Afghan Women United, was formed between Europe and Australia, where other teammates have also been living since 2021.

- ‘A beautiful story’ -

The team played their first international matches at the FIFA Unites: Women’s Series late last month in Morocco — and Noori scored the team’s first goal in the opening game against Chad.
They went on to lose both to Chad and Tunisia although they registered a big 7-0 win against Libya. But the tournament overall was a major win for the Afghan women.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who attended one of their games, described their participation as “a beautiful story” that the women were writing “for so many girls and women all over the world.”
Nilab Mohammadi, a 28-year-old striker and former soldier who also represented the Afghan national team, said football was “not just a sport — it represents life and hope.”
“There is no more freedom in Afghanistan, especially for Afghan women,” Mohammadi added. “But now, we are going to be their voice.”
Twenty-year-old midfielder Mina Ahmadi said “a dream was taken away from us” back home, “but when FIFA recognized us, it was as if a part of that dream came true.”
“This new adventure is a happy moment for us,” added Ahmadi, who is now studying medical sciences in Australia.
“It won’t stop anytime soon, because we will keep moving forward.”

- ‘Just to play football’ -

FIFA has yet to decide whether the refugee team can compete in official international matches as representing Afghanistan, but the players remain determined to get there.
The Afghan Women United now have one goal: to have the squad recognized by FIFA as the Afghan national women’s team since women in the country are not allowed to play the game.
“These women are incredible,” said Aish Ravi, a researcher on gender equity in sports who worked with several of the players when they first arrived in Australia in 2021.
“They are strong and inspiring,” she added. “They’ve had to overcome enormous adversity just to play football.
“This sport is more than a game,” Ravi said. “It symbolizes freedom for them.”
Ahmadi said she dreamed of playing in Europe one day, but being far from home can prove difficult.
“It’s very hard to get used to a country where you didn’t grow up,” she said. “You miss your family and friends... But we have to keep moving forward.”