Hamilton Claps Back at Critics Following Ferrari Sprint Victory

Lewis Hamilton produced an exemplary performance at the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint Race to claim his initial Ferrari victory and silence the debate regarding his adaptation to Ferrari.

Seventime World Champion Hamilton has enjoyed great fortune in the Shanghai International Circuit during previous years with six Grand Prix triumphs. Hamilton dominated proceedings at the weekend's event and ended a strong 6.889 seconds in front of Oscar Piastri from McLaren.

This win is a welcome respite for Hamilton, who experienced a tough time in Australia, finding it difficult to cope with the SF-25. Following his disappointing drive in Melbourne, most analysts queried his capability of adjusting to Ferrari. Hamilton, though, proved strongly against these accusations, highlighting the difficulty of having to adapt to a new team.

The first race was difficult, and I believe many people underestimated how hard it is to get used to a new team, to get settled in, and to get used to the communication and all the subtleties that come with it," Hamilton said after his victory.

He also spoke about the cynicism over his initial struggles at Ferrari, saying that most of his critics did not realize the intricacies of adjusting to a new car and setup.

"There's been a lot of talk from critics who just don't get it… perhaps because they haven't experienced it themselves, or just don't know what it takes," he said.

In contrast to his Melbourne performance, where he appeared unsteady in the Ferrari, Hamilton was much more at ease in Shanghai. He felt more in tune with the car from the first practice session, which manifested in a dominating performance in the Sprint. Hamilton attributed his team for making the adjustments needed to maximize the car's performance.

"From Lap 1 this weekend, I felt very at ease with the car. We've all put in a lot of work – engineers, mechanics – to get everything perfect, and it felt wonderful today," he added.

Hamilton had a good beginning in the Sprint and took good care of his tyres, despite the difficulty of the resurfaced Shanghai circuit. The Briton admitted that the new surface provided high grip, and tyre management was difficult, but he was able to keep everything under control during the race.

"I had a good beginning, and there's so much grip on this new surface. It's difficult to handle the tyres, but I believe everyone was struggling with the same issue," he added.

Even with the win, Hamilton called on the team and fans to be patient, pointing out that Ferrari has a long way to go before they can regularly challenge for victories.

I understand the Tifosi, I understand the supporters, and I understand that the team are wanting to win. It's everything to them. But what I said last week, Rome wasn't constructed overnight," Hamilton pointed out. "One thing at a time – we won't get excited about it.

Hamilton emphasized that it is a long-term undertaking and that although the Sprint win is a major milestone, the priorities lie in consistent progression.

"We'll keep pushing, stay focused, and remain vigilant. We'll be back at our desks after this and turn our attention to Qualifying this afternoon. It's a long, long way ahead. It's a marathon, not a sprint, so we have to take our time."