‘I’m back to my best’: Lewis Hamilton marks Ferrari revival with Chinese GP podium place

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Lewis Hamilton said he is “back to his best” after he finished third at the Chinese Grand Prix to claim his first podium at Ferrari,The 41-year-old Briton beat his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc after a thrilling duel and praised Formula One for delivering what he claimed was the best racing he had ever experienced,The race in Shanghai was won by Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, his first F1 victory, from his teammate George Russell in second,But Hamilton delivered a feisty performance in an almost race-long scrap with Leclerc to take third, his first podium since the Las Vegas GP in November 2024,“I definitely feel like I’m back to my best, both mentally and physically,” Hamilton said.

“I still think there’s room to improve.Training this winter has been the heaviest and the most intense that I’ve ever had, and that probably comes hand in hand with being older.It takes longer to recover.”“It’s the hardest thing just to get a podium compared to a lot through my career, and it was the biggest challenge to get that and I just had to bide my time.Coming into the season I really cultivated that really positive mental attitude and I’m taking that forward with me.

”The moment was all the more significant after Hamilton had struggled so hard during his debut season with Ferrari last year.The car was off the pace and the seven-time world champion was also having to adapt to his new team.With a series of poor results and some of the worst qualifying sessions of his career he bemoaned it as a “nightmare” season and by its close appeared adrift and disconsolate.A major reset occurred during the winter and it has paid off, with Hamilton showing the verve and pace of old, alongside Ferrari having a car that is far more competitive and better suited to Hamilton’s driving style.“I started this voyage and this dream of moving to Ferrari and being on the top step with them, and this podium has taken longer than I had hoped,” he added.

“After a difficult year, to be able to be a part of developing with them, working with them over the past year, gives me huge pride.“I do think there’s more to come.I think I can still eke out more performance from this car.I’m still learning about it as I go.”The British driver also weighed in on the controversial debate about the new regulations.

The four-time champion Max Verstappen, who had to retire from the race in China with an energy recovery system cooling issue, had delivered a vituperative broadside after the race,“It’s terrible,If someone likes this, then you really don’t know what racing is like,” said Verstappen,“Not fun at all,Playing Mario Kart.

This is not racing and I would say the same if I [were] winning races, because I care about the racing product.It’s not about being upset with where I am.“I don’t think it’s what the real F1 fans like,” Verstappen added.“Maybe some fans like it but they don’t understand racing.Hopefully we can get rid of this as soon as possible.

”1 Andrea Kimi Antonelli (It) Mercedes2 George Russell (GB) Mercedes at 5.52sec3 Lewis Hamilton (GB) Ferrari at 25.27s4 Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari at 28.89s5 Oliver Bearman (GB) Haas at 57.27s6 Pierre Gasly (Fr) Alpine at 59.

65s7 Liam Lawson (NZ) RacingBulls at 1m 20.59s8 Isack Hadjar (Fr) Red Bull at 1:27.259 Carlos Sainz (Sp) Williams at 1 lap10 Franco Colapinto (Arg) Alpine at 1 lap11 Nico Hülkenberg (Ger) Audi at 1 lap12 Arvid Lindblad (GB) RacingBulls at 1 lap13 Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Cadillac at 1 lap14 Esteban Ocon (Fr) Haas at 1 lap15 Sergio Pérez (Mex) Cadillac at 1 lapNot Classified: Max Verstappen (Neth) Red Bull, Fernando Alonso (Sp) Aston Martin, Lance Stroll (Can) Aston Martin.DNS: Oscar Piastri (Aus) McLaren, Lando Norris (GB) McLaren, Gabriel Bortoleto (Bra) Audi, Alexander Albon (Tha) Williams.World drivers' championship standings1 George Russell (GB) 51pts2 Andrea Kimi Antonelli (It) 473 Charles Leclerc (Mon) 344 Lewis Hamilton (GB) 335 Oliver Bearman (GB) 176 Lando Norris (GB) 157 Pierre Gasly (Fr) 98 Max Verstappen (Neth) 89 Liam Lawson (NZ) 810 Arvid Lindblad (GB) 4In stark contrast, Hamilton believes the new formula is working well.

Fans in Shanghai appeared to agree, given their enthusiastic response to the race.“I think it’s the best racing I’ve ever experienced in Formula One,” he said.“The cars are easier to follow, much better than past years.You can get very close, there’s not a bad wake where you’re losing too much downforce.“Hopefully it was an exciting race to watch because it was awesome in the car.

It felt like go-karting, back and forth and you could really position your car in a nice way where there was a thin piece of paper between us sometimes,”
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‘I’m back to my best’: Lewis Hamilton marks Ferrari revival with Chinese GP podium place

Lewis Hamilton said he is “back to his best” after he finished third at the Chinese Grand Prix to claim his first podium at Ferrari.The 41-year-old Briton beat his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc after a thrilling duel and praised Formula One for delivering what he claimed was the best racing he had ever experienced.The race in Shanghai was won by Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, his first F1 victory, from his teammate George Russell in second. But Hamilton delivered a feisty performance in an almost race-long scrap with Leclerc to take third, his first podium since the Las Vegas GP in November 2024.“I definitely feel like I’m back to my best, both mentally and physically,” Hamilton said

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Kimi Antonelli wins F1 Chinese GP from pole as Lewis Hamilton claims first Ferrari podium

Teenage dreams so hard to beat, and what a moment when realised for Kimi Antonelli as he took his first Formula One victory at the Chinese Grand Prix.There were tears from the 19-year-old who delivered on his enormous promise in Shanghai, but behind them no little steel as the Mercedes driver demonstrated he is in the world championship fight.“Thank you so much to my team because they have helped me to achieve this dream,” said Antonelli, who was heartily congratulated by a driver eager to remind the sport that his career is far from over yet, having made his debut when Antonelli was not even 12 months old.That was Lewis Hamilton, who claimed third place, his first podium for Ferrari after a blow-for-blow street fight with his teammate Charles Leclerc. The seven-time world champion gave notice he has lost none of his edge, nor his competitive spirit

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Formula One: Kimi Antonelli wins Chinese Grand Prix race updates – as it happened

And here’s Giles’s race report:But that’s about all that’s needed from me today. The championship will be back in action in a fornight’’s time in Japan, before going on something of an extended break due to the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi GPs.Be sure to check back for Giles Richards’ full report and wash-up!Achieving his dream 🤩🥹#F1 #ChineseGP pic.twitter.com/tya9mvcREqLewis Hamilton on the broadcast

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‘So close to being a special day’: Borthwick rues agony of England’s France defeat

Steve Borthwick says the pain of England’s last-gasp defeat to France can drive them on to better times despite their unsuccessful Six Nations campaign. Borthwick’s side finished second bottom of this year’s table but came agonisingly close to dashing French title hopes before losing 48-46 in one of the all-time great championship fixtures.Borthwick, who said he still believed he was “the right man to lead the team forward”, could not hide his disappointment after Thomas Ramos secured a last-gasp home victory with the final kick of an extraordinary game. “I’m really disappointed for the players and supporters … it was so close to being a special day,” he said.“We came into the tournament with high aspirations and we’re really disappointed we haven’t been able to meet those targets

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Heartbreak for England but spirited display signposts the way forward | Gerard Meagher

Just as Steve Borthwick was reaching for his coat, he finally has something to hang his hat on. The ledger records an agonising defeat but a performance brimming with positives, carried out with a swagger that must signpost the way forward if this is to be the turning point in Borthwick’s tenure. Moments of naivety, too, plenty of mistakes and a maddening feeling that leaves you questioning why they do not always play like this.Around half an hour before kick-off of this bonkers Six Nations finale, as part of an equally mind-boggling, gloriously French, pre-match show, there was a moment when two white horses cantered down the middle of the pitch, hitched up on their hind legs before galloping away in different directions down the touchline to take up residence behind each goal. The two horsemen facing each other down