Red Dawn: Hamilton Makes History with Ferrari

Embracing the team, his father Anthony, and his Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton wins his first race in red. It’s only a sprint, but it’s beautiful, dominated from pole position to the finish, giving 7 seconds to McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, whispering to the tires in a way few know how. Max Verstappen tried to stay close to his old rival, but with the Red Bull, he had to surrender to the Australian as well. Charles Leclerc, perhaps too conservative at the start, is overtaken by George Russell’s Mercedes. Although he regains pace in the final laps, he finishes in 5th place. “I’ve always been behind Lewis this weekend, I need to work on it,” he admits. Lando Norris, on the other papaya, wastes his opportunity: he starts poorly, losing three positions, and finishes 8th behind Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes.

Ferrari’s First Sprint Victory

This marks the dawn of the red team. Neither the seven-time world champion nor Maranello had ever managed to win a 100 km Sprint since they were introduced in 2021. Friday’s mini pole was no illusion. “I woke up feeling great, the weather is nice here in Shanghai. The first race was difficult and painful in Melbourne, but we knew there was potential. I’ve heard so many people underestimate how complicated it is to join a new team, learn, and meet new people. People talk and make absurd criticisms, not realizing how hard it is to adapt. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. We made some adjustments to the car, worked well, and here we are.”

One Step at a Time

A good sign is sent out: for qualifying in the afternoon, for tomorrow’s race, but above all, for regaining confidence in himself, perhaps never really doubted. He has enough experience to understand how races unfold. Certainly, the reaction from the Scuderia after the misstep in Australia is an important message. It’s also about keeping calm. Hamilton himself says, “There can be a bad day, but we have to take it one step at a time. Rome wasn’t built in a day. We have to work and be diligent, stay focused, and stay calm. Do I feel pressure? Honestly, no. I know it’s the first year, and I know all the fans and supporters want us to win, but we need to take our time. We made some changes to the car, and today it went well. I knew it was about managing the tires, which I did.”

Photo: Courtesy of Pirelli media house