George Russell looks ahead to China, analyzes Ferrari, and admits: “Hamilton deserved the podium…”. Ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, George Russell reflects on Ferrari’s pace in Australia.

As preparations ramp up for the Chinese Grand Prix, George Russell has analyzed Ferrari’s pace and the performance of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton during last weekend’s race, reaching a clear conclusion about his fellow Briton.

Russell wary of Ferrari? Insights from Melbourne

Following the Australian Grand Prix, the form seen in pre-season testing was confirmed: Mercedes at the front, Ferrari leading the chasing pack, with McLaren and Red Bull ready to join the fight. While the Brackley team benefits from the best Power Unit on the grid, Maranello’s engineers appear to have delivered one of the strongest chassis and aerodynamic packages, giving their drivers the ability to put pressure on both George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.

Bad luck played a role, as two Virtual Safety Cars disrupted strategy, and neither Ferrari driver could capitalize with a pit stop. Speaking ahead of the China Grand Prix, Russell was candid: “I don’t think it would have been easy for us to win the race if Ferrari had pitted during that Virtual Safety Car; they had the same pace as us.”

The confession about Hamilton

Russell and Hamilton shared a flight from Melbourne to Shanghai, during which the former teammates discussed last weekend’s race. “He was very happy, in a good mood,” admitted Russell. “Looking back, he probably deserved to be on the podium. I felt a bit sorry for him because he was really fast.”

What we’ve seen so far is a Lewis Hamilton completely different from last season, when he struggled with a difficult-to-drive SF-25 and seemed to lose confidence and perhaps even enjoyment in driving the car. This year, Hamilton’s form with the SF-26 shows a renewed pace and competitiveness, reminding fans of the multiple world champion’s true capabilities on track.

George Russell’s admission confirms that the 2026 title fight might be closer than the Melbourne results initially suggested. While Mercedes holds the advantage in straight-line speed thanks to their highly efficient Power Unit, Ferrari’s chassis parity means that strategy and track position will be the deciding factors in Shanghai. If the SF-26 can match the W17’s pace during the Chinese Sprint weekend, Russell might find that “feeling sorry” for his rival is a luxury he can no longer afford. The battle for supremacy is just getting started.