Hamilton drama: Ferrari accused of throwing away China GP success

Early signs of progress

According to GiveMeSport, Lewis Hamilton secured his first podium for Ferrari with a third place finish at the Chinese Grand Prix, marking a notable improvement after a difficult start with the team.

The seven time world champion looked more competitive under Formula 1’s new regulations, building on encouraging sprint pace shown earlier in the weekend at the Shanghai International Circuit.

Despite the step forward, Ferrari still appear to be chasing Mercedes, who have established themselves as the early benchmark in the 2026 season.

Costly fight on track

Hamilton made a strong start and briefly took the lead before being overtaken by Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. The pair quickly pulled clear, with Antonelli taking victory by a margin of more than 30 seconds.

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The turning point in Ferrari’s race came during an intense battle between Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc. While the fight was clean, it proved expensive in terms of lap time and tyre wear.

Speaking after the race, Hamilton said: "Of course, these guys , Mercedes , are pulling past us at crazy speeds, but to be able to all be so close. Hopefully it was an exciting race to watch for you guys because it was awesome in the car."

Villeneuve criticism sparks debate

According to Sky Sports F1, former world champion Jacques Villeneuve was highly critical of Ferrari’s approach, arguing the intra team fight ultimately hurt their overall result.

“Well, it was fair because he finished third, and he managed to beat his teammate.”

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“So, yes, it turned out okay, but it was a little bit extreme, and it destroyed Ferrari’s race. They were running second and third. Then they were fighting so hard, destroying their tyres. And in those two laps, they lost five seconds to Antonelli.”

Villeneuve’s comments have reignited debate around Ferrari’s decision to allow both drivers to race freely rather than impose team orders.

Ferrari face internal balancing act

Villeneuve warned that if Ferrari continue to let their drivers take time off each other, it could hand Mercedes a decisive advantage in the championship race.

“At some point, if they keep taking lap time away from each other like this, it will allow Mercedes to get away. And they’re not that far from Mercedes, with a car that can race.”

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Mercedes’ early dominance has already led to discussions among rival teams about potential regulatory changes, but Ferrari’s immediate concern may lie closer to home.

Balancing internal competition with maximizing race results could prove crucial if they are to close the gap in the standings and mount a serious title challenge.

Sources: GiveMeSport

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