Lewis Hamilton vows to battle Mercedes in upcoming races as Ferrari fights back – F1 Chinese GP. Lewis Hamilton reflects on his first Ferrari podium at the 2026 Chinese GP.

Lewis Hamilton commented on the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix and announced that Ferrari is ready to fight Mercedes in the coming races. The weekend in Shanghai offered plenty of excitement, with Hamilton and his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc delivering a thrilling on-track spectacle. Despite the Ferrari SF-26 showing excellent performance, the team is still facing a power deficit compared to Mercedes. Nevertheless, both drivers were at the center of an intense and action-packed battle, ultimately won by Lewis Hamilton, who claimed his first podium in red with authority.

Hamilton reflects on the Chinese GP and his battle with Leclerc

Lewis Hamilton appeared visibly emotional on the podium in Shanghai, and his team radio at the end of the race captured some of that excitement. Speaking after the event, he said that his duel with Charles Leclerc had been fantastic and congratulated Kimi Antonelli on his first victory in Formula 1. The Briton noted that it was a privilege to share the podium with a young driver achieving such a milestone and praised the team for providing a car capable of producing this level of performance. “The battle with Charles was amazing. But I must congratulate Kimi because he did an exceptional job. For me, it was a privilege to be on the podium and witness a young driver like him growing, and to have the opportunity to work with a fantastic team and achieve his first win. It was an incredibly hard battle on track, but that’s the nature of racing,” Lewis Hamilton stated.

Thanks to Ferrari and a promise for the future

Despite only achieving a third and fourth place in China, Lewis Hamilton expressed satisfaction with the work done at Ferrari’s factory. He emphasized that the effort is far from over and promised to continue pushing to close the gap to Mercedes. “I must thank everyone at the factory. I’m truly grateful for the massive effort everyone has made to get us into this position. Of course, it’s not the final place we want to occupy, but we need to be at the front, so we must keep pushing, focusing deeply on reducing this gap. The car, however, feels fantastic. So, let’s keep going,” Lewis Hamilton said.

Lewis Hamilton explained that the current difference with Mercedes is primarily due to engine performance, while the SF-26 is competitive in terms of aerodynamics. “The issue is on the straights; they have a stronger engine and more power. I think we have a great engine, but I also think they started developing theirs a little earlier than us. I’m not sure if it’s because they have a bigger turbo, but they clearly have more power on the straights. You can see that when they overtake us, they seem to fly, and there’s nothing we can do to stop them,” Lewis Hamilton added.

SF-26 strength and future improvements

This difference on the straights is currently the main gap between the Ferrari SF-26 and the Mercedes W17. the Briton noted that in the corners, Ferrari is very competitive and close to Mercedes. “That’s exactly where the performance gap lies because in the corners I think we are very strong, just like they are. Regardless, I have no doubts: we will continue to improve engine performance. Maybe not just the engine—we’ll also work on efficiency and straight-line speed—but we’re keeping our fingers crossed and hoping to be able to win as soon as possible,” Hamilton concluded.

Lewis Hamilton’s analysis of the “corners vs. straights” battle in Shanghai suggests that the 2026 championship could turn into a classic developmental arms race. If Ferrari can find the missing kilowatts or reduce the drag on the SF-26 without compromising its cornering prowess, the Mercedes 1-2 finishes could quickly come under threat. The Briton’s public confidence in the “feel” of the car is perhaps the most dangerous sign for his former team; a seven-time champion who trusts his front end is a driver who can make up for a minor power deficit through sheer racecraft. As the season moves to Japan and then the high-speed European circuits, Maranello’s ability to unlock that extra straight-line efficiency will dictate whether Lewis Hamilton can turn his “Forza Ferrari” celebrations into a fight for the world title.