Lewis Hamilton secured his first victory with Ferrari in the sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix on Saturday, delivering a dominant performance that saw him fend off criticism from skeptics. The seven-time world champion, who joined Ferrari this season after a storied career with Mercedes, took aim at his detractors, accusing them of “yapping” without understanding the challenges of adapting to a new team.
Hamilton, 40, claimed pole position for the sprint race on Friday and led from start to finish, crossing the line ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. The win marked a significant turnaround after a challenging debut for Ferrari at the Australian Grand Prix, where Hamilton qualified eighth and finished 10th.
Despite his success in the sprint, Hamilton will start Sunday’s main race from fifth on the grid, with Piastri securing his first pole position for a Sunday grand prix. Hamilton expressed optimism about his chances, stating that he felt “unusually calm” during the sprint and is focused on executing a strong race strategy.
Hamilton Fires Back at Critics
Hamilton did not name specific individuals but criticized those who he said lacked understanding of the difficulties involved in transitioning to a new team. “People just love to be negative at any opportunity,” he said. “Even with the smallest things, they’ll just be negative about it. That’s just the difficult time that we’re living in.”
He added that some critics were making “uneducated guesses” about his performance and showed a “real lack of appreciation” for the challenges he faces. “Maybe because they never had the experience or are just unaware,” Hamilton remarked.
The British driver emphasized that his sprint win, while not the main event, was a crucial step forward. “It’s hard to put into words what it feels like,” he said. “Obviously, it’s a sprint race. It’s not the main race. But even just to get that is a good stepping stone to where I’m working towards.”
Ferrari’s Adjustments and Sunday’s Prospects
Ferrari made adjustments to their car following the sprint race, but Hamilton acknowledged that the changes affected his qualifying performance for Sunday’s grand prix. “The car became quite snappy,” he said. “The lap wasn’t as clean at the end. I probably should have been 0.2 seconds further up or maybe 0.1 seconds. We’re not too far away, but it’s not ideal.”
Teammate Charles Leclerc, who will start sixth, echoed Hamilton’s sentiments, stating that the team had maximized the car’s potential but needed to better understand its performance fluctuations.
Piastri’s Breakthrough Pole
Oscar Piastri’s pole position for Sunday’s race marked a milestone for the young Australian, who had previously secured pole for sprint events but never for a main grand prix. Piastri credited his success to a bold move in the final corner of his qualifying lap, where he decided to “send it” after initially considering pitting.
McLaren’s Lando Norris, who will start third, admitted to making mistakes during qualifying but remained confident in the car’s speed. “We’ve never doubted it’s the quickest car,” Norris said. “It can just be a little bit feisty at times.”
Russell’s Surprise Front-Row Start
Mercedes’ George Russell secured a spot on the front row, just 0.082 seconds behind Piastri, in what he described as a “real surprise.” However, Russell tempered expectations for the race, acknowledging McLaren’s superior pace. “Anything more than a P3 is a big result for any team at the moment,” he said.
Looking Ahead to Sunday
With tire management expected to play a critical role in Sunday’s race, Hamilton remains hopeful of a strong result. “I feel optimistic for tomorrow,” he said. “I’d like to get a good start and jump at least one car, then slowly work my way up. Tonight, I will make a masterplan and try to execute it.”
As the Formula 1 circus continues in Shanghai, Hamilton’s sprint victory has not only bolstered his confidence but also served as a reminder to his critics that the legendary driver remains a force to be reckoned with.
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