Lewis Hamilton has been optimistic after achieving his first podium with Ferrari at the Chinese Grand Prix. In a standout performance, the British driver expressed that he feels “back at his best level,” both physically and mentally, although he acknowledges that there is still room for improvement.
During the race at the Shanghai International Circuit, Hamilton managed to surpass his teammate, Charles Leclerc, in both qualifying sessions and won in an intense battle on Sunday. With this result, he secured the third spot on the podium, ahead of the Mercedes drivers, who proved to be untouchable.
After a long wait for this first podium, which was his 26th with the Scuderia, Hamilton expressed pride in being part of the team’s development: “After a tough season last year, being able to contribute to their growth makes me feel a great pride. They have provided a very solid car.”
As a result of his team change, Hamilton has experienced a new work environment and highlighted that his physical preparation this winter has been the hardest of his career, a fact he acknowledges due to his age. “Training this winter has been the most intense I have ever experienced; it has been challenging to recover,” he commented.
In addition, he has introduced a new dynamic to the team with his new race engineer, Carlo Santi, who previously worked with Kimi Räikkönen. This change, still provisional, has brought a new air to his race approach and has boosted the team’s morale.
Leading this new phase, Hamilton acknowledges that there are still aspects of the car he can improve. “I believe I can extract more performance from this car, and I will continue learning as the season progresses,” he added. His adaptation and commitment to the new project at Ferrari are reflected in his better integration within the team and in his interaction with other members.
With a renewed mindset and constant improvement, Hamilton is prepared to face the challenges ahead and to continue competing at the highest level in the Formula 1 World Championship.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
SourceID: SRC_c83b6e473e9f406bc35b73661cd6f24111b03dbe