Lewis Hamilton ends podium drought and targets more success with Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton believes there is even more performance to unlock after ending a 16-month podium drought to claim his first top-three finish for Ferrari at the Chinese Grand Prix.
The seven-time world champion finished third in Shanghai behind the leading Mercedes duo.
That encouraging result followed a solid fourth-place finish at the season-opening race in Melbourne.
It marks the British veteran’s strongest start to a Formula 1 campaign since his thrilling 2021 title battle.
Intense winter reset
The 2025 season was statistically the worst of the renowned driver’s illustrious career.
He endured a turbulent first year with the Scuderia and frequently struggled to match the pace of team-mate Charles Leclerc.
However, a gruelling off-season training regime has yielded immediate dividends for the iconic Italian outfit.
The legendary racer completely unplugged from the sport over the winter break to rebuild his mental focus.
Back to peak form
The rejuvenated star now approaches this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix with significant momentum.
He is confident of helping his team close the gap to early constructors’ championship leaders Mercedes.
I definitely feel like I’m back to my best, both mentally and physically.
Despite the breakthrough result in China, the record-breaking race winner remains hungry for further technical improvements.
I think I can still eke out more performance from this car.
He acknowledged that mastering the technical complexities of his new machinery remains an ongoing process.
I’m still learning about it as I go, particularly with energy deployment, but I do think there’s more to come.
