Lewis Hamilton shattered the lap record at the Shanghai circuit during a remarkable qualifying session that secured him his first sprint race pole with Ferrari in China on Friday, March 21. He will be joined on the front row by Red Bull’s reigning champion Max Verstappen, who finished just 0.018 seconds behind.

Hamilton clocked an impressive time of 1:30.849, outpacing last year’s victor, Verstappen, in what was the season’s inaugural sprint race qualifying for Formula One. As the excitement of a new season unfolds, storylines such as a vulnerable Verstappen, a determined Norris, and a rejuvenated Hamilton are beginning to take shape.

In the battle for grid positions, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri secured third place, followed by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in fourth. Mercedes’ George Russell qualified fifth, while McLaren’s championship leader Lando Norris took sixth.

For Hamilton, this pole position marked a significant achievement after his disappointing 10th place finish in the season opener in Australia just a week prior. “I didn’t see this coming, but I am so thrilled and proud,” the 40-year-old veteran exclaimed. “The last event didn’t go well for us, and we knew there was untapped potential in the car that we hadn’t maximized. I’m still a bit in disbelief.”

Verstappen, reflecting on his second-place finish, found solace in being on the front row, but acknowledged the challenge of holding off the McLaren drivers during the shortened race. “I’m very pleased. We were somewhat off the pace in practice, so to be here on the front row is encouraging,” he shared.

Meanwhile, Lando Norris experienced frustration, as a mistake in the final corner led to him abandoning what could have been a strong lap. “I locked up in the last corner and we just didn’t have enough pace. The car was tougher to handle with the wind conditions, but I still believe we can improve during the race,” he noted.

Italian rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli will start his debut in seventh place, followed by Yuki Tsunoda from Racing Bulls, Alex Albon of Williams, and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll.

Haas’ British rookie Oliver Bearman bounced back from a challenging outing in Melbourne, qualifying 12th ahead of Carlos Sainz of Williams in 13th. In contrast, Red Bull’s Liam Lawson faced a rough start to his partnership with Verstappen, ending up at the back of the grid and struggling to get his tires to perform.

Neither Alpine driver advanced past the first qualifying round, with Pierre Gasly set to start in 17th place and rookie Jack Doohan in 16th.

Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates delighted his followers by posting an Instagram video featuring Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, with the playful caption, “A snack break before we get to work.” The brief clip captures the duo relishing Mumbai’s beloved street food, vada pav, whilst perched on a bench, ending with a teasing “Serving soon” message splashed across the screen.

Gates, currently touring India, has been making waves with high-profile engagements. Earlier this week, he touched down in New Delhi, where he held discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several Union ministers. His itinerary then brought him to Mumbai, where he met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The tech titan’s visit underscores his ongoing fascination with India’s innovative spirit, a theme he expanded upon in a recent blog post.

Writing on his personal site, Gates reflected on the trip’s impact: “I came away with fresh perspectives because India is brimming with clever, driven individuals addressing some of the globe’s toughest challenges in ingenious ways.” His words echo sentiments he shared ahead of the visit, when he praised Odisha’s farmers for leveraging artificial intelligence to boost agricultural outcomes—a story that’s garnered attention for its blend of tradition and technology.

The vada pav moment with Tendulkar, a national treasure, adds a light-hearted touch to Gates’s packed schedule. It’s not just a snack break; it hints at a potential collaboration, though details remain under wraps. For Indian fans, seeing two legends—one from tech, the other from cricket—share a casual bite is a rare treat, blending global influence with local flavour.

As Gates continues his journey, his interactions spotlight India’s dual role as a hub of innovation and a cultural powerhouse. Whether it’s AI-driven farming or a street-side snack with a sporting hero, his visit is proving to be a feast of ideas—and vada pav.

As the excitement builds for IPL 2025, cricket fans are set to witness a grand opening ceremony at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens on Saturday, March 22. Scheduled to begin at 6 PM IST, this event will mark the official kick-off to the new season of the Indian Premier League, with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the tournament opener right after.

This is the first time since 2015 that Kolkata is hosting the IPL’s opening ceremony, making it a special occasion for local fans. Interestingly, this season will feature opening celebrations across all 13 venues, adding a unique flair to the tournament.

However, weather concerns are casting a shadow over the event. Recent showers in Kolkata have raised apprehensions, and forecasts suggest rain is expected around 9 AM on match day. If rain continues later into the day, it may disrupt both the ceremony and the much-anticipated clash between KKR and RCB.

Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) President Snenashish Ganguly confirmed that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has allotted a 35-minute window for the opening performance. “The rest will be like every year,” he added, suggesting that the focus will remain on the cricketing action post the opening celebrations.

Meanwhile, teams are making final preparations. Spinner Varun Chakaravarthy spoke about the importance of forming a strong core early in the tournament. “If we are able to get a set core in the first 3 matches, then we have great chances ahead in this season,” he noted.

Ahead of the season opener, all team captains participated in the official pre-season photoshoot, including prominent names like Pat Cummins, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar, Axar Patel, Shreyas Iyer, and Ajinkya Rahane.

As fans look forward to big performances, attention will also be on star players like Virat Kohli, who has scored 962 runs against KKR, including one century and six half-centuries. His RCB teammate, David Warner, holds an even more impressive record with 1093 runs against KKR, averaging 43.72.

While the stage is set and expectations are sky-high, all eyes will now be on the skies over Kolkata, hoping the weather does not dampen the IPL 2025 curtain raiser.