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Hamilton Claims First Victory with Ferrari in Shanghai Sprint
Lewis Hamilton celebrated a triumphant debut as a Ferrari driver by clinching victory in the Saturday Sprint race in Shanghai. This win marks a significant milestone for the seven-time world champion, who has transitioned to Ferrari in pursuit of new challenges and success.
Hamilton's performance was nothing short of impressive, as he dominated the 19-lap Sprint from start to finish, showcasing his skill and determination on the track. Sky Sports F1 pundit Karun Chandhok highlighted the importance of this lights-to-flag victory, noting that while it does not contribute to Hamilton's record of 105 race wins, it sets a positive tone for his new chapter with the iconic team.
Starting the main Grand Prix from fifth position, Hamilton faces a more challenging road ahead if he hopes to extend his illustrious winning record. Nevertheless, his Sprint win underscores his ability to adapt and excel in a new environment, outpacing his teammate Charles Leclerc in the process.
Chandhok emphasized that Hamilton's early success with Ferrari could be pivotal, not only for the driver himself but also for the team's aspirations this season. As the F1 community watches closely, all eyes will be on Hamilton as he aims to continue building momentum in the upcoming races.
"It wasn't a full Grand Prix, just a third of the distance, but Lewis Hamilton appeared to be in complete command," Chandhok noted. "It was the Hamilton we’ve all been longing for over the past three years: rising to the challenge, taking the lead, breaking away from DRS, and methodically clocking laps to clinch the Sprint victory."
'This is why Ferrari brought him on board'
After celebrating his remarkable Sprint win—his first in 19 attempts since the Saturday race format was introduced in 2021—Hamilton addressed his critics who had voiced their opinions following a disappointing debut with Ferrari in Australia, where he finished 10th in challenging wet conditions. He remarked that those criticisms were based on "uneducated guesses" regarding the difficulties he faced at Albert Park.
Chandhok reflected on the Melbourne race, stating, "We assessed it after the weekend and I found it quite chaotic. Despite being Lewis Hamilton, arguably the greatest driver of all time, he will need some time to acclimate."
He noted interesting developments from Ferrari's camp on Saturday. Hamilton mentioned that during his first weekend in Melbourne, he opted to follow Ferrari's approach without pushing for changes, wanting to avoid disrupting their established procedures. However, heading into this weekend, he expressed a desire to tweak certain aspects of the car's setup to find an optimal balance.
Hamilton shared that he connected with his race engineer, Ricciardo Adami, as early as Monday to prepare for the weekend and ensure they had the car set up just right for their limited practice session.
On Hamilton's immediate influence within F1's most storied team, Chandhok added, "This is precisely what Ferrari aimed for by bringing Lewis into their ranks. They’ve gained invaluable experience—over 100 Grand Prix wins and more than 100 pole positions—to provide guidance without needing to reinvent the wheel. He’s here to deliver results on the track."
Hamilton: We Must Remain Grounded
Following his Sprint triumph and prior to main qualifying, Hamilton stated, "We just came from a race where we finished 10th, so there are numerous factors to consider. We can't let ourselves get carried away by one result."
He acknowledged that the car felt good during the Sprint and that he managed to finish ahead of competitors from McLaren and Red Bull. However, he cautioned against drawing conclusions too quickly: "If you look at [Sprint] qualifying, it’s incredibly tight. Avoiding mistakes will be crucial. But it seems we’re competitive this weekend, which is promising."
He continued, "I hope this momentum carries on. Yet, we have to take it race by race; last week was a reminder of that. I'm optimistic that we've learned from our experiences and can build on this success moving forward."