SHANGHAI — Lewis Hamilton says he is “incredibly grateful” to Ferrari for allowing him to help guide the development of the car that brought him back to the Formula 1 podium for the first time since 2024.
Hamilton finished third at the Chinese Grand Prix after a race-long battle with teammate Charles Leclerc, including what he described as “just a kiss” of contact between the pair. The result ended a long wait for a top-three finish in a full Grand Prix race since his move from Mercedes, which won Sunday with Kimi Antonelli, the driver who replaced him at the team.
“To see them listen and put some of those things that I’d asked for on the car, I’m just incredibly grateful,” Hamilton said. “It just makes you feel more united with everyone because you’re moving in the same direction. I’m looking forward to getting back next week to Maranello and seeing everybody. Big, big push.”
Hamilton’s first year with Ferrari was marked by frustration as he struggled with a car sensitive to setup changes, aside from a sprint race win in China last year. Ferrari failed to win a single Grand Prix in 2025. Hamilton has admitted he sometimes blamed himself and even suggested a driver change after falling short of Leclerc’s pace, but he said he returned for 2026 with a fresh mindset.
Ferrari’s fast-starting car allowed Hamilton to briefly lead Sunday’s race before Mercedes’ all-round strong performance took control. Hamilton said Ferrari would continue pushing to out-develop Mercedes for the remainder of the season.
“It’s really special to see them back at the front, because this is a phenomenal team. And I know we’ve got our work cut out to beat them, because when they’re on form like this, it’s not easy to beat,” Hamilton added.
Joining him on the podium was Hamilton’s longtime race engineer Peter “Bono” Bonnington, now working with Antonelli, and Hamilton reflected on the moment as a reunion with his F1 “family.”
