Hamilton feels first Ferrari win 'more in sight' after maiden podium

Lewis Hamilton believes a first victory with Ferrari is now a tangible target after securing his maiden podium for the team at the Chinese Grand Prix. The seven-time champion finished third in Shanghai, marking his first top-three finish since joining the Scuderia and his first podium overall since last year's Las Vegas GP.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's immediate success with Ferrari is a significant morale boost for both the driver and the team, validating his high-profile move. After a challenging final season with Mercedes, this result signals that the partnership has competitive potential and provides a crucial baseline to build upon in their quest to return to the front of the grid.

The details:

• Hamilton expressed clear optimism post-race, stating a win is "more in sight than ever before," a stark contrast to his view last year.
• He acknowledged a significant performance gap to the front, estimating Mercedes currently holds a four-to-five-tenths per lap advantage in race trim.
• The Briton identified key areas for improvement, specifically citing the need for gains in downforce, aerodynamic efficiency, and engine power to close the deficit.
• Hamilton also commented on the 2026 F1 regulations, rejecting Max Verstappen's critical narrative. He argued the new rules have reduced turbulent air, enabling closer racing and producing some of the best wheel-to-wheel battles he's experienced.

What's next:

The immediate focus for Ferrari will be unlocking more performance from the SF-24 to convert podium contention into a genuine victory challenge. Hamilton's stated belief in the team at Maranello suggests development is already aggressively underway. Closing the straight-line speed gap to rivals like Mercedes will be a critical factor in determining if Hamilton's first Ferrari win can materialize this season.