Lewis Hamilton Defends Ferrari Move After China Sprint Win

Lewis Hamilton has responded sharply to critics, accusing them of ‘uneducated guesses’ regarding his initial challenges with Ferrari. This comes after his spectacular turnaround culminating in a victory at the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint.

Following a tenth-place finish in wet conditions in Melbourne during his debut Ferrari race the previous weekend, Hamilton secured Sprint pole position in China on Friday. He then delivered an exceptional performance on Saturday, comfortably winning the 19-lap Sprint race.

Hamilton’s high-profile move to Ferrari after a 12-year tenure with Mercedes placed him under intense scrutiny, particularly after his performance in Australia, which he himself described as a ‘disaster’ when reflecting on his China Sprint pole.

In a post-race interview at the Shanghai International Circuit, Hamilton addressed his victory, stating, “I genuinely believe many people underestimated the significant challenge of transitioning to a new team. It involves acclimatization, understanding, communication – a multitude of factors.”

He added, “I’ve heard numerous critics ‘yapping’ along the way, clearly lacking understanding, perhaps due to inexperience or unawareness.”

“It feels fantastic to arrive here and feel more at ease in the car, unlike Melbourne where I struggled. From the very first lap this weekend, we’ve been competitive.”

In a subsequent press conference, Hamilton was questioned about whether the criticism he mentioned made his first Sprint victory even more rewarding.

He responded, “I’m not really responding directly to them. It’s just that we live in an era where negativity seems to be readily embraced, even regarding minor matters. It’s the challenging environment we currently inhabit.”

“I observe certain individuals, and while I generally avoid news, I catch snippets here and there. I see people I’ve long admired making unfounded speculations about the situation.”

“There’s a notable lack of appreciation for the complexity of moving to a completely new team with a different operational style and car characteristics. Success isn’t instantaneous.”

Hamilton had previously expressed admiration for how quickly former Ferrari drivers Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel adapted to the team. He reiterated this comparison, referencing his own integration process relative to these champions.

He elaborated, “It’s true that both Seb and Fernando achieved strong results early in their Ferrari tenures.”

“However, building sustained success with a team requires time, and that’s my focus. I’m not trying to rush or get ahead of myself. I’m dedicating myself to building with this exceptional team. The potential here is immense.”

“To achieve this level of performance in just the second race, especially at a track where I’ve historically performed well, is encouraging, though it’s important to consider the specific track characteristics.”

“Overall, I’ve felt increasingly comfortable in the car. As I gain a deeper understanding of optimal car setups for different tracks, like this one, I believe my approach to future races will be more informed.”

‘We Must Remain Grounded’

Hamilton’s Sprint victory in Shanghai was unexpected, especially considering McLaren’s perceived performance advantage.

Lando Norris had won in Melbourne, and McLaren seemed poised for a one-two finish if not for Oscar Piastri’s spin in wet conditions.

They were favored for Sprint pole, yet Piastri qualified third and Norris sixth. Piastri managed to overtake Max Verstappen for second in the Sprint, but Norris only recovered to eighth after losing positions at the start.

When asked if this result instilled confidence that Ferrari could contend with McLaren for top honors this season, Hamilton urged caution.

He stated, “We’re coming from a race where we finished tenth, so numerous factors need consideration.”

“We can’t become overconfident based on a single result.”

“The car performed well today, and yes, we finished ahead of a McLaren and a Red Bull. However, qualifying demonstrates how tight the competition is.”

“Avoiding errors will be crucial. But we appear to be in contention this weekend, which is very positive.”

“I hope this trend continues. However, performance can vary significantly from track to track, as we saw last week.”

“I’m optimistic that we’ve learned significantly from last week and applied those lessons here, resulting in a much-improved car setup. If we can maintain this trajectory, I’ll be very pleased.”