Lewis Hamilton finished third at the Chinese Grand Prix and secured his first podium as a driver for Ferrari. For the seven-time world champion, it marked the 203rd podium of his Formula 1 career. On his way to that result, Hamilton had to defend hard against his teammate Charles Leclerc, who ultimately finished fourth.
Hamilton congratulated race winner Kimi Antonelli and acknowledged the strength of Mercedes, admitting that Ferrari still has significant work to do to match their pace. According to Hamilton, the race was one of the most enjoyable he has experienced in a long time, and his battle with Leclerc was both fair and exciting.
Leclerc, for his part, said he enjoyed the close duel with his teammate, although the gap to Mercedes was clearly too large. He added that Mercedes currently appear to be the main favourites, but emphasized that much of the season will depend on how quickly teams can develop and upgrade their cars.
