Lewis Hamilton clinched his maiden win with Scuderia Ferrari in the 2025 Chinese GP Sprint Race, delivering a commanding performance around the Shanghai International Circuit. Starting from pole after an impressive showing in Friday’s qualifying session, Hamilton led from the outset, fending off early pressure from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
The seven-time world champion maintained his advantage throughout the race, ultimately crossing the line in first place. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri finished second after overtaking Verstappen on Lap 15, while the Dutchman, struggling on worn tyres, settled for third. Hamilton’s former Mercedes teammate George Russell took fourth, with Charles Leclerc rounding out the top five in the second Ferrari.
Hamilton dismisses critics, highlights challenges of adapting to Ferrari
Despite a challenging weekend in Melbourne, Hamilton entered the Chinese GP Sprint Race with optimism, particularly given the electrifying atmosphere provided by the Shanghai crowd.
As written on Pit Debrief, Hamilton said, “Today, I woke up feeling great. You know, the weather is beautiful here in Shanghai. So, I mean, now we have this amazing crowd.”
Reflecting on his adaptation period with Ferrari, Hamilton criticised those who underestimated the complexities of switching teams, particularly after spending more than a decade with Mercedes.
“The first race was really difficult. And obviously, I really do feel a lot of people underestimated the steep climb it is to get into a new team, to become acclimatised within a team, understanding and communication, all sorts of things,” he explained.
“And the amount of critics and people I’ve heard yapping along the way, just clearly not understanding—maybe because they never had the experience or just unaware.”
Hamilton credits Ferrari for improvements since Melbourne
Following Ferrari’s disappointing performance in Australia, Hamilton and his team worked tirelessly to fine-tune the SF-25. He attributed his increased comfort in the car, as well as his strong performance in Shanghai, to the dedication of his engineers and mechanics.
“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,” he admitted.
“From lap one here this weekend, really feeling on it. We’ve done a great job with the engineers, done a great job. Mechanics have done a great job to really fine-tune the car. And it felt great today.”
His well-executed race start was another key factor in securing victory, though he acknowledged that tyre management was a challenge due to the high grip levels on the recently resurfaced track.
“I got a good start. And then it was really so much grip on this new tarmac. It’s really hard to look after these tyres. But I think everyone was struggling the same.”
Ferrari and Hamilton remain level-headed despite success in Chinese GP Sprint Race
For Ferrari’s passionate Tifosi, Hamilton’s triumph is a momentous one. However, he stressed that he does not feel added pressure to win immediately, instead advocating for a patient and methodical approach to the season.
“I don’t feel the pressure. I know the Tifosi, I know the fans, I know the team wants to win. And I know it means everything to them,” he said.
“But I said the other day, ‘Rome wasn’t built in one day.’ [We have to take it] one step at a time. We’re not going to get ahead of ourselves. We cannot.”
With a long season ahead, Hamilton emphasised the importance of staying focused and not getting carried away by the excitement of individual victories.
“We’ve got to continue to push. We’ve got to be diligent and just remain focused. Stay calm. Most importantly, stay calm. Because these moments get us all excited.”
He concluded by reaffirming Ferrari’s commitment to long-term success, stating, “We’ll be back at our desks after this and focused on qualifying this afternoon. And, you know, it’s a long, long way. So it’s a marathon, not a sprint, right. So we’ve just got to take our time.”
