F1 | Lewis Hamilton’s redemption in China: The Briton reacts to his first Ferrari podium. Lewis Hamilton secures his first Ferrari podium at the Chinese GP.

Lewis Hamilton claimed his first podium with Ferrari at the Chinese Grand Prix. During the weekend of Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s first triumph in Formula 1, the English driver fought a tough—but fair—battle with Charles Leclerc, returning to the podium after more than a season of waiting. He expressed his gratitude to Maranello for providing a Ferrari capable of fighting at the front and giving hope to both drivers and fans.

The Chinese GP marked a historic race for Italian motorsport. Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s victory signaled the return of an Italian driver to the top step of the podium, while in third place, Lewis Hamilton achieved his first career podium with Ferrari. The seven-time world champion battled fiercely in a race dominated by the W17s, coming out ahead in a head-to-head duel with teammate Charles Leclerc.

For Hamilton, reaching this milestone was the achievement of a goal that, just a few months ago, seemed out of reach. With the SF-26—a car that has started strong and allows him to fully express his potential—the Stevenage-born driver seems to have regained the form of his prime years. His team radio at the finish, where he thanked the squad and enthusiastically shouted “Forza Ferrari!”, reflects a long-awaited sense of joy and satisfaction.

Hamilton’s words after his first Ferrari podium

Speaking to David Coulthard, Lewis Hamilton could barely contain his emotion: “First of all, congratulations to Kimi, it’s an honor for me to share this moment with him. He took my seat in a great team, and we will have to work hard to reach their level. The battle with Charles was one of the most fun I’ve ever had, a wheel-to-wheel fight that was hard but fair. Thanks to all the fans here in Shanghai.”

“At one point, we touched, but it was light contact, everything went fine,” continued the Englishman. “It’s the nature of racing. I have to thank everyone at Maranello for bringing us back to this position. We have a great platform to build on, and we will keep pushing.”

Lewis

Hamilton’s performance in Shanghai acts as a powerful statement of intent for the 2026 Formula 1 season. After the frustrations of his first year with the Maranello team, seeing the seven-time champion thrive in the Ferrari environment suggests that the “Hamilton effect” is finally taking hold at the Scuderia. While the gap to the Silver Arrows remains significant, the SF-26 has proven to be a car that the British can trust on the limit, especially in the technical sectors where he held off Charles Leclerc’s charge. The dynamic between the two Ferrari superstars will be under the microscope as the season continues with the Japanese Grand Prix. If they can continue to race with this level of mutual respect while extracting maximum points, Ferrari may well become the primary threat to Mercedes’ early-season hegemony. For today, however, the Tifosi can celebrate the Briton’s first podium in red.