British Formula One (F1) racing driver and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton claimed his first podium with Scuderia Ferrari HP with a composed drive to third place at the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix, held from March 14 to 15 at the Shanghai International Circuit. The achievement marked a significant milestone in his journey with the iconic Italian team.
The race weekend began with a new sprint format, featuring a 19-lap Sprint Race on Saturday that shaped the starting grid for Sunday’s main event. There, Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 team’s George Russel took home first, with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc finishing second. Hamilton completed the top 3, demonstrating a strong early pace for the team and scoring valuable sprint points.
Sunday’s race saw Russel’s teammate, Kimi Antonelli, control the action from start to finish, earning the young Italian driver’s maiden F1 win. Not far behind, Russel followed to complete a Mercedes one-two finish, highlighting the team’s competitive form in Shanghai. Antonelli’s exemplary management of pace and strategy demonstrates his emergence as one of the sport’s rising talents.
Hamilton made a strong start, briefly leading the race in the early laps before Antonelli regained control. The multi-talented world champion carefully managed tires and race pace to defend third place, fending off his teammate Leclerc in an intense Ferrari battle that lasted throughout the race. Leclerc finished fourth, securing valuable team points.
Behind the podium, several midfield teams engaged in fierce battles for points. Tire choices, pit stops, and race management proved decisive, with drivers such as Oliver Bearman of the TGR Haas F1 team and Pierre Gasly of the team BWT Alpine F1 delivering strong finishes; the former secured fifth place, while the latter finished in sixth. Other drivers struggled with mechanical or track issues.
The 2026 Chinese Grand Prix highlighted multiple narratives – Antonelli’s breakthrough victory and Mercedes’ continued early-season dominance, alongside Hamilton’s personal achievement of his first podium in red. For Ferrari. Hamilton’s result provides both morale and data on race pace as the season continues.
Autocar’s Take
Lewis Hamilton’s podium in Shanghai is a defining moment for both him and Ferrari. After years of success with Mercedes, his move to Ferrari in 2025 came under intense challenges, and the recent podium finish shows he can quickly adapt and deliver. While Mercedes dominated throughAntonelli’s maiden victory, Ferrari’s race strategy and Hamilton’s composure demonstrate that the Italian team still has what it takes to compete at the front.
This result boosts morale and strengthens Hamilton’s status as a proven multi-titled world champion. Beyond points, this signals the start of a promising chapter in his career and suggests that Ferrari may have finally found the pace and strategy to challenge for wins this season.
