Lewis Hamilton motivates Ferrari over team radio: “I believe in you, let’s push.” Charles Leclerc stays silent. Lewis Hamilton motivates the Ferrari team over team radio after his first podium with the SF-26.

Ferrari arrived in China for the second race of the year with the goal of seeking confirmation, and that target was met. Following a strong showing in Melbourne, in Shanghai the Scuderia once again proved to be the second force on track, positioning itself as the primary (and so far only) challenger to Mercedes – the undisputed team to beat, consistently able to outperform rivals across the board, thanks to a clear engine gap that currently appears to be the decisive factor.

Starting from the second row in third and fourth positions, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc finished the race in the same spots, challenging the two Mercedes cars off the line with a blistering start and in the opening laps. However, they then had to cope with the Silver Arrows’ superior race pace (roughly half a second faster per lap), settling for the lowest step of the podium and fourth place, respectively.

Certainties, in both directions

In short, the result mirrored that of seven days earlier in Melbourne and is likely to repeat itself in the near future. As in Australia, positive aspects were evident for Maranello: the reliability of the SF-26, the quality of the chassis, and the strong form of both drivers, who repeatedly battled each other on track, providing a spectacular show and clearly signaling their confidence in the car. On the other hand, the Italian team is acutely aware that much work must be done quickly on car development, particularly on the power unit, to close the gap to Mercedes. Compared to the season opener, that gap has grown significantly, raising concerns—not so much for the Chinese GP itself, but for the medium- to short-term trend. Half a second per lap is a distance that may make short-term success difficult.

Hamilton the motivator

The gap, moreover, cannot be closed by aerodynamic improvements alone. For the Scuderia, it will be crucial to take full advantage of ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities) to close the Mercedes gap by the summer, aiming for a strong second half of the season. Hamilton emphasized this need for development in his team radio on the cooldown lap, thanking the team for their work and motivating all team members, both on track and at the factory, to give their best. This spirit, likely fueled by his first podium in red, was not shared by Charles Leclerc, who remained silent on the radio after finishing fourth following a personal mistake.

Santi: “Well done Lewis! Excellent race. Thank you!”

Lewis Hamilton: “Fantastic work, guys! Really well done. Thanks for the hard work. We have to keep going like this. Let’s keep pushing! We have work to do in Maranello, but I believe in you. Forza Ferrari!”

The contrast between Lewis Hamilton’s vocal encouragement and Charles Leclerc’s silence highlights the different pressures facing the two drivers as they navigate the hierarchy of the new Ferrari era. The 2026 Formula 1 season moves toward the next rounds and the pressure will be on the technical department to turn the Briton’s belief into on-track performance.