Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton put up a strong fight against Mercedes during the early stages of the Sprint Race but ultimately finished 3rd at the 2026 F1 Chinese GP. After finishing 6th in FP1 and 4th in Sprint Qualifying, Saturday got off to a solid start for Hamilton and Ferrari, with Charles Leclerc securing 2nd in the Sprint.
In a similar fashion, this time last year the seven-time World Champion claimed his first Sprint win with the prancing horse in Shanghai. Although he didn’t match his previous result, Hamilton can take pride in what he achieved during today’s race.
Speaking during the parc fermé interviews, the Briton reflected on the session, saying: “Yeah, mega job. It’s amazing. A big thank you to the team, for us to be able to be in this position, fighting with the Mercedes at the front.
“It was a close battle at the beginning. The speed on the straight is just a little bit too much at the moment. But I think I put up a good fight, but I killed my left tyre, so I wasn’t able to hold on to position.”
“Definitely a lot happier in it” says Hamilton on the SF-26
While the Sprint Race brought its share of chaos, Mercedes and Ferrari continued to appear a step ahead in race pace compared to the rest of the field. However, the Italian outfit has found particular strength in their starts, with both Ferraris consistently delivering timely launches off the line.
Throughout the Sprint, several teams struggled with graining as they continue to adapt to the new regulations. Last year, Hamilton’s difficulties with handling the SF-25 had been a major hurdle. Settling in comfortably with their 2026 challenger, the Briton is happier with the SF-26 but isn’t complacent after finishing 3rd, with focus now turning to Qualifying.
Hamilton said: “I don’t know. I feel it’s just a much better car that we’ve designed, and we’ve been a part of developing it. So, definitely a lot happier in it. And, of course, I was in the lead at one point, so to finish third is not the greatest, but I will try harder again tomorrow.”
