Hamilton Silences Critics with Dominant Sprint Victory in China Amid Ferrari Debut Season

Hamilton Fires Back at Critics After Breakthrough Ferrari Win

Lewis Hamilton unleashed a scathing rebuke of his detractors following a triumphant sprint race victory at the Chinese Grand Prix, marking his first win since joining Scuderia Ferrari. The seven-time world champion’s emotional radio message – "That’s how we respond!" – echoed through the Shanghai International Circuit as he crossed the line ahead of Oscar Piastri (McLaren) and Max Verstappen (Red Bull).

From Doubt to Dominance

• Difficult debut: Hamilton’s Ferrari career stalled in Australia (P10 finish) amid car balance issues
• Shanghai turnaround: Secured sprint pole by 0.342s before leading all 19 laps
• Psychological edge: "This stillness in me... I haven’t felt it since 2021", Hamilton revealed post-race

Technical Insights: Ferrari’s Evolving Package

After Friday’s sprint, Ferrari engineers implemented:

• Revised rear wing settings for reduced drag on straights
• Adjusted suspension geometry to improve tire warm-up
• Resulted in P5/P6 qualifying for Sunday’s GP despite "snappy" single-lap handling

Rival Reactions

Piastri’s breakthrough: "When I was 0.2s down, I just decided to send it at the hairpin – that made the difference", admitted the Australian after securing his first Sunday pole.

The Road Ahead

• Tyre strategy: Teams face extreme degradation with new Pirelli compounds
• Hamilton’s masterplan: "We’ll use our race pace advantage – watch that opening stint"
• Weather wildcard: 60% chance of rain forecast for race start (15:00 local)

"This isn’t just about one sprint win", Hamilton concluded. "It’s about proving we can take the fight to Red Bull over a full season."

Upcoming Battles:

• Miami GP (May 4-5) – Ferrari’s high-speed package expected to shine
• European season begins in Imola (May 17-19) with major upgrades planned