Ferrari

LEWIS HAMILTON fired back at “yapping” critics after sealing his first Ferrari win on just the second race weekend.The 40-year-old British driver has entered a new era as he bagged his first-ever Sprint win since the new format began in 2021.Lewis Hamilton won his first race for Ferrari at the Chinese Grand Prix SprintCredit: RexHamilton battled Max Verstappen off the line but was quicker than his old rivalCredit: GettyHe was praised by his engineer for a ‘masterclass in tyre management’Credit: RexHe then hit back at his ‘yapping’ criticsCredit: ReutersMcLaren’s Oscar Piastri took pole for the feature race ahead of Mercedes’ George RussellCredit: AFPTo make victory even sweeter, Hamilton held off his old foe Max Verstappen who finished third but started in P2, while Oscar Piastri finished second.Hamilton’s win was a huge statement as he finished the 19-lap sprint a whopping 6.8 seconds ahead of the Aussie McLaren driver.After crossing the line he was praised by engineer Riccardo Adami for a “masterclass in tyre management”.Piastri hit back in qualifying as he took pole position for Sunday’s race while George Russell’s Mercedes nipped between him and his McLaren team-mate Lando Norris, while Verstappen finished in fourth and Hamilton fifth.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAfter the Sprint win, Hamilton took another dig at his critics following his disappointing season opener in Melbourne last weekend.He said: “The first race was difficult and obviously, I think I really do feel a lot of people underestimated the steep climb it is to get into a new team,“To become acclimatized within the team and understanding communication and all sorts of things.”The amount of critics and people I’ve heard yapping along the way just clearly not understanding.Most read in MotorsportJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS“Maybe they’ve never had the experience or just unaware, so it’s felt great to come here and feel comfortable in the car, because in Melbourne I didn’t feel comfortable in the car.”The Ferrari driver had started on pole – the first Brit to achieve the feat for the team since Nigel Mansell in 1990 – after setting a new track record for the Shanghai International Circuit on Friday.Lewis Hamilton has perfect response to dismal Ferrari debut as he achieves feat not seen for 35 years Hamilton batted away Verstappen going into Turn 1 and then for the first 10 laps of the sprint.He had then built enough of a gap to storm over the line after Piastri had passed the Dutchman with four laps to go.Hamilton finished a disappointing tenth in Melbourne last weekend after qualifying in P8.He bagged a cushty eight points for winning the Sprint in China, which has propelled him up the standings.But Hamilton has urged Ferrari’s boisterous Tifosi fanbase to remain calm.He added: “I know the Tifosi, the fans, the team want to win, and it means everything to them,”But I said the other day, Rome wasn’t built in one day, one step at a time and we’re not going to get ahead of ourselves.READ MORE SUN STORIES”We’re going to continue to push, be diligent, remain focused, stay calm – most importantly stay calm – because these moments get everyone excited.”But we’ll be back at our desks after this, focused on qualifying. It’s a long, long way. It’s a marathon, not a sprint so we’ve just got to take our time.”Chinese Grand Prix qualifying grid positions1. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:30.6412. George Russell (Mercedes)3. Lando Norris (McLaren)4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)5. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)6. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)7. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)8. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)9. Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls)10. Alex Albon (Williams)11. Esteban Ocon (Haas)12. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)13. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)14. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)15. Carlos Sainz (Williams)16. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)17. Oliver Bearman (Haas)18. Jack Doohan (Alpine)19. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)20. Liam Lawson (Red Bull) More

SIR LEWIS HAMILTON had the perfect response to his dismal Ferrari Formula One debut in Australia by racing to pole for the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint race.Hamilton had a debut to forget as he finished P10 in a tricky Melbourne race.Lewis Hamilton had the perfect response to his horror Ferrari debut by scoring pole for the Chinese Sprint poleCredit: GettyHamilton became the first British Ferrari driver to score a pole since Nigel Mansell in 1990Credit: GettyHamilton celebrated his first Ferrari pole with dad, AnthonyCredit: AFPHe was stunned at the result and was heard laughing over the radioCredit: GettyThe 40-year-old had been highlighted for his X-rated conversation with his engineer, Riccardo Adami, after growing frustrated at the communication throughout the race.However, a week on Hamilton responded with a stunning performance in Shanghai as he pipped old rival Max Verstappen to Sprint pole.The Brit raced around the circuit to prove his doubters wrong by landing his first Ferrari pole, first career pole since 2023 and second-ever Sprint pole.But more remarkably, Hamilton’s pole saw him achieve two feats not seen for over 30 years.READ MORE IN F1The first saw Hamilton become the first F1 driver over the age of 40 to grab pole since Nigel Mansell in 1994.The second saw Hamilton become the first British driver to score pole for the Scuderia since 1990, a record also held by Mansell.When he was told the news by his engineer that he had qualified on pole, Hamilton replied: “Really? Hahaha! Mega job. Woo!”He celebrated with his dad Anthony after the session as he set a new lap record around Shanghai with a time of 1:30.849.Most read in MotorsportJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSSpeaking after the session, he said: “I didn’t expect that result but so, so happy and so proud.”Clearly the last race was a disaster for us but we knew there was more pace in the car.’I’m about to cry’ – Fans praise Lewis Hamilton’s dad for classy gesture as he consoles F1 rookie after debut crash”I’m a bit shocked. I can’t believe we got a pole in the Sprint!”Hamilton can win up to eight points for winning the Sprint Race, which commences tomorrow at 3am UK time.Qualifying for the feature race will take place from 7am, with the full race happening at 7am on Sunday. More

LEWIS HAMILTON and his new race engineer will be having a bonding session ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix this weekend.For 12-years all Hamilton knew at the end of his team radio at Mercedes was Peter ‘Bono’ Bonnington and his famous ‘Hammer time’ call.Lewis Hamilton cut a frustrated figure after a disappointing debut race with FerrariCredit: GettyRiccardo Adami is the 40-year-old’s new race engineerCredit: GettyThe pair began working together in 2013 when Hamilton joined the team and forged one of the greatest racer-engineer partnerships in history, winning six world titles together over 12, mostly glittering, seasons.The two developed an unbreakable bond over the years with Hamilton referring to Bono as a “brother”.But that pair were ripped apart when Bono was promoted to head of race engineering at Mercedes, meaning the pair’s partnership concluded when Hamilton joined Ferrari this season.Seven-time world champion Hamilton, 40, said before his debut in Melbourne on Sunday that he will “know early on” whether or not his relationship with his new race engineer Riccardo Adami at Ferrari will work.Read More in F1Well, if the fiery exchange between the two after a Ferrari strategy blunder in the opener in Melbourne is anything to go by then it’s not looking good.Hamilton played things down after Sunday’s race and said: “We’re learning about each other, and after this we’ll download and go through all the comments, things I said and vice-versa.“Generally, I’m not one that likes a lot of information in the race, unless I need it, I’ll ask for it. He did his best today, and we’ll move forwards for sure.“I’ve learned a huge amount this weekend, there’s a lot to take away from it. And I’ve got some changes I’ve got to make for next week.Most read in SportCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS“Sunday was a crash course in driving a Ferrari in the rain.”Hamilton led the Australian Grand Prix briefly but the Italian team produced a strategy blunder leaving him finishing the race in P10 as they left it too late to pit him as the rain came down.’I’m about to cry’ – Fans praise Lewis Hamilton’s dad for classy gesture as he consoles F1 rookie after debut crashHamilton blasted, “S***!” before apologising after not realising the radio was still on after Ferrari’s mistake.Hamilton had qualified eighth and was sassy throughout with Adami who tried to give the Brit information about DRS, but he replied: “Leave it guys, leave it.”Adami, 51, has been working with Ferrari since 2015, having previously worked with Toro Rosso.He worked as Sebastian Vettel’s race engineer and worked with Carlos Sainz in 2021 before he was replaced by Hamilton.When Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur was asked if there were communication issues between Hamilton and Adami, he replied: “It was the first race, the first time that we have to communicate between the pitwall and the car.“We can do a better job and know each other more, for sure it was not a clean one at all, the strategy was difficult and we need to find a better way to communicate between the car and the pitwall but we will learn from race one and it is not an issue.McLaren looked like the fastest car on the grid, with Lando Norris securing the win and Oscar Piastri second for most of the race before finishing in P9 after spinning off track.Max Verstappen came in second ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell and Red Bull boss Christian Horner has urged people not to get too carried away due to how unique the Melbourne track is.READ MORE SUN STORIESHe said: “China is the first representative race circuit of quite a few venues. It will be fascinating to see how Ferrari performs there.“McLaren will be quick there I have no doubts about that.” More