A hard-fought first podium for Ferrari 
Sunday in Shanghai Lewis Hamilton finally ended a long wait. The Englishman officially scored his first podium in a Ferrari single-seater. That result backed up what pre-season running suggested and proved he’s adapted to the new technical rules. The podium wasn’t handed over — it was won on track. Charles Leclerc defended his position hard against his new team-mate. The scrap between them ran for roughly an hour before Leclerc gave way in the final fifteen laps.
The temperature rose on lap 25 when the two Ferraris brushed wheels into Turn 1. It looked scary but was harmless. After the race Hamilton stuck to the sporting side of the move, praising a fierce yet fair battle. The seven-time champion even admitted he’d had a blast behind the wheel, calling it one of the most enjoyable races he’s raced in years.
Gap to Mercedes still to close 
Once the flag fell he met familiar faces in the paddock. He headed straight for George Russell and his former race engineer Pete Bonnington. He also made a point of warmly congratulating Kimi Antonelli — the young Italian who just took his first Grand Prix win in the very seat Hamilton occupied last season.
On the timesheets the German outfit still holds a comfy advantage. Maranello’s cars, though, blasted off the line and sat up front early on. The Ferraris pushed again when the safety car came in, but over long stints Mercedes’ pace kept telling.
The message is plain for the Italian engineers. The Brit publicly thanked the factory for the car’s quality, saying they’ve got a solid base to work from. The objective now is simple: focus on development and try to match the leaders consistently.
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