It was a big day for Charles Leclerc on Saturday, as he accomplished an impressive milestone by winning Ferrari’s first Formula One sprint race. Despite historically struggling with the track, Hamilton led from start to finish, delivering a performance that silenced critics after a disappointing 10th-place finish in Melbourne last weekend. His victory has made him the favorite for Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix. He’ll start the race from P5 on the grid.
Hamilton’s victory on Sunday was personally impressive, but it was an equally impressive moment for Ferrari. From pole position, leading every lap, and winning as the only Ferrari in front of the home crowd was indeed Hamilton’s “next level” surreal. Using his tyres better than anyone else, Lewis took the win from Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen. Hamilton was quick to stress the need for caution, insisting that he and Ferrari would not be getting carried away.
“Starting from pole, starting from first in a Ferrari and winning in a Ferrari is next level, man. It’s mega,” said Lewis Hamilton.
Ferrari’s team principal, Fred Vasseur credited their success on weekend execution, to them with good tyre management. From the front of the pack, Vasseur noted, tire management is more easily controlled. He focused in particular on the difficulty Ferrari faces when attempting to pass in dirty air. This preternatural deployment of a deceptively simple piece of equipment would become an integral component in Hamilton’s ascent to the championship.
Charles Leclerc, Hamilton's teammate, finished fifth and remarked on his car's setup being slightly different. He acknowledged Hamilton's excellent performance, attributing it to the driver's skills rather than any shortcomings of the car. Leclerc shared his struggles with the track, having always found it to be extremely challenging.
“I really struggle with this track historically, and there’s no exception this weekend. But it’s not an excuse, and I need to react, and qualifying will be a good start to turn things around.” – Charles Leclerc.
Hamilton had qualified fifth for the feature, but was unhappy with the fact he hadn’t nailed his lap. He was sure he could have gone at least two tenths faster. He’s optimistic about his chances heading into Sunday’s Grand Prix.
“Tonight, I’m just going to make a master plan about the win. And then I’m going to try and execute it,” stated Lewis Hamilton.
