Lewis Hamilton has responded sharply to critics he calls `yapping` for their `uneducated guesses` about his adaptation to Ferrari. This strong reaction comes after his impressive victory in the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint race.
Following a challenging first race with Ferrari in Melbourne where he finished 10th in wet conditions, Hamilton secured Sprint pole position in China. He then delivered a commanding performance on Saturday, winning the 19-lap Sprint race comfortably.
Hamilton`s high-profile move to Ferrari after a long and successful stint with Mercedes has placed him under intense scrutiny, especially after what he described as a `disaster` in his first Ferrari race in Australia. The Sprint victory in China is seen as a significant turnaround.
Speaking after his Sprint win and before qualifying fifth for Sunday`s Grand Prix, Hamilton addressed the criticism. He stated, `I think many people underestimated how difficult it is to transition to a new team, to get used to everything – the communication, the understanding, all aspects of it.`
He continued, `I`ve heard so many critics, talking without really knowing or understanding the situation, perhaps because they lack the experience of such a change. It felt great to come to China and feel much more at ease in the car. In Melbourne, I wasn`t comfortable at all. But from the very first lap here this weekend, we`ve been competitive.`
In a subsequent press conference, when asked if the criticism made his Sprint victory more rewarding, Hamilton responded, `I`m not trying to respond directly to them. But we are in a strange era where negativity is so prevalent. People often jump to negative comments even about minor things. It`s the environment we live in.`
Hamilton added, `I notice individuals, some I`ve respected for years, making assumptions without full knowledge. They`re making guesses about what`s happening.`
He emphasized the complexity of switching teams, noting, `There`s a lack of appreciation for the challenge of moving to a team with a completely different approach and car characteristics. It`s not a simple matter of just getting in and being instantly perfect.`
Hamilton had previously mentioned his admiration for how quickly former Ferrari drivers like Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel adapted to the team. He reiterated this comparison, saying, `If you look at Seb and Fernando, they performed strongly early on with Ferrari.`
He concluded, `However, building sustained success with a team takes time, and that’s my focus. I`m not trying for a quick fix or to rush things. I`m committed to building with this excellent team. There`s significant potential here.`
`Achieving this result in just the second race, especially at a track where I`ve historically performed well, is encouraging. Overall, I’ve felt much better in the car this weekend. I`m gaining a better understanding of the car`s setup preferences for different tracks, which will be valuable going forward.`
Following setup adjustments for the main qualifying, Hamilton found the car `trickier` in the windy conditions of Shanghai. He qualified fifth for the Grand Prix, 0.286 seconds behind pole sitter Oscar Piastri, but still ahead of his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc.
Cautious Optimism
Hamilton`s Sprint victory was unexpected, particularly given McLaren`s apparent performance advantage leading up to the race. McLaren had shown strong pace, but in the Sprint, Hamilton and Ferrari were able to challenge.
When questioned about whether the Sprint result indicated Ferrari could challenge McLaren consistently, Hamilton urged caution. `We just came from a race where we were 10th,` he reminded, `so many factors are involved. We can`t get carried away by one result.`
`The car felt good today, and we did finish ahead of a McLaren and a Red Bull. But in qualifying, the margins are very tight. Consistency and minimizing mistakes will be crucial. We seem to be in a good position this weekend, which is positive. I hope this continues, but we need to see how we perform at different tracks. Last week wasn`t as strong for us.`
`Hopefully, we`ve learned from last week and applied those lessons here. The car is definitely improved, and I hope we can maintain this level. If we can, I`ll be very pleased.`
