Lewis Hamilton, the celebrated Ferrari driver, offered a candid evaluation of his performance at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix (GP) Qualifying. After a dynamic win at the Sprint, Hamilton’s qualifying session didn’t meet his or his fans’ expectations.
Earlier in the season, Hamilton had failed to leave a significant mark during his inaugural race with Ferrari at the Australian GP. However, he made a spectacular comeback by securing pole position for the Sprint at the Chinese GP, leading the race from start to finish. Yet, despite this triumph, he found himself starting in the fifth position for Sunday’s race, unable to replicate the same speed he demonstrated earlier.
Hamilton’s Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc, also faced a challenging qualifying session, ending up in the sixth position. If Ferrari hopes to make it to the podium in Sunday’s race at the Shanghai International Circuit, both drivers will need a reversal of fortune.
During a post-session interview with F1TV, Hamilton confessed that his Ferrari was ‘really hard to drive.’ He indicated that there were some setup modifications for the Qualifying session, none of which were major, but they seemed to have a significant impact on the car’s performance. The Ferrari, according to Hamilton, was not responding well to the road conditions and he speculated that the increasing gusts could be a contributing factor.
In the Sprint race, Hamilton demonstrated superior tyre management skills, a feat that left others, including Max Verstappen, struggling. When queried about his prospects for Sunday’s race, Hamilton remained hopeful, saying that while the changes might affect the pace, it shouldn’t be too detrimental. However, he did acknowledge the difficulty of maintaining a consistent speed, stating that his focus would be on strategizing a win.
Hamilton also expressed concerns about his Ferrari’s erratic balance in an interview with Sky Sports F1. He noted that the car’s equilibrium would shift unpredictably from one corner to the next, making it challenging to put laps together. He lamented that an ideally balanced vehicle was what a driver needed to rely on during sharp corners, and the unpredictability of his car didn’t inspire much hope.
Oscar Piastri of McLaren stole the show by securing the first pole position of his career in China. He was accompanied on the front row by George Russell. Meanwhile, Verstappen and Lando Norris held positions ahead of the Ferrari duo on the third row.
In conclusion, despite a promising start with a Sprint win, Hamilton’s performance at the 2025 Chinese GP Qualifying was a rollercoaster ride. His candid admission about the difficulties he faced with his Ferrari vehicle has added an unexpected twist to the narrative of this racing season.
