Lewis Hamilton delivered a stunning performance in the Sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix, securing his maiden victory for Scuderia Ferrari and silencing his critics in emphatic fashion.
The seven-time World Champion dominated the race at the Shanghai International Circuit, crossing the finish line a commanding 6.889 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri.
Hamilton’s triumph came as a surprise to many, particularly after a challenging weekend in Australia, where he struggled to find his rhythm with the SF-25.
However, the Briton revealed that he felt significantly more comfortable in the car from the outset in Shanghai, attributing his improved performance to the hard work of his Ferrari engineers and mechanics.
“I woke up feeling great today,” Hamilton said, praising the “amazing crowd” and the beautiful Shanghai weather. “The first race was difficult, and obviously, I think… I really do feel a lot of people underestimated the really steep climb it is to get into a new team, to become acclimatised within a team, understanding and communication, all sorts of things.”
He then directly addressed the critics who had questioned his transition to Ferrari. “The amount of critics and people I’ve heard yapping along the way just clearly not understanding, maybe because they’ve not had the experience or just unaware. It felt great to come here and feel more comfortable in the car because in Melbourne I really didn’t feel comfortable in the car.”
Hamilton’s victory was built on a strong start from pole position, which he secured in Friday’s Sprint Qualifying.
He managed tire graining effectively, maintaining a consistent pace throughout the race, even as his rivals struggled. “I got a good start and then there’s so much grip on this new tarmac. It’s really hard to look after these tyres but I think everyone was struggling the same,” he explained.
Despite the excitement surrounding his first win for Ferrari, Hamilton remained grounded, emphasizing the importance of taking things one step at a time. “I don’t know, I don’t feel the pressure,” he stated when asked about the expectations of the Tifosi. “I know the Tifosi, I know the fans, I know the team wants to win. I know it means everything to them but I said the other day that Rome wasn’t built in a day. One step at a time – we’re not going to get ahead of ourselves.”
He further added, “We’re going to continue to push. We’re going to be diligent and just remain focused, stay calm most importantly because these moments get us all excited. We’ll be back at our desks after this and focused on Qualifying this afternoon. It’s a long, long way. It’s a marathon not a sprint, so we’ve just got to take our time.”
The Sprint race also saw a thrilling battle between Hamilton and Max Verstappen in the early laps, with Hamilton holding off the Red Bull driver to maintain his lead. Verstappen eventually finished behind Piastri.
