Formula 1 Chinese GP
Lewis Hamilton reveals Ferrari changes have made SF25 "snappy" in China
Lewis Hamilton will start the Chinese Grand Prix from fifth.
Lydia Mee
Edited: Mar 22, 2025, 9:48 AM
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: Mark Thompson - Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton has revealed that after changes were made to the Ferrari after sprint qualifying, the SF25 became "quite snappy."
The former Mercedes driver clinched his first victory with the Maranello outfit in the sprint race after starting the race from pole position. However, he was unable to translate that pace into a pole-earning performance in qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix later that day.
Commenting on whether the team's qualifying result was due to other teams making a improvements or Ferrari losing performance somewhere, the British driver explained:
"We made a couple of changes to the car after sprint qualifying to rectify some problems we had. And I don't know if it's with the wind, but the car became quite snappy."
He added: "I think the lap wasn't the cleanest at the end, and I should have been a couple of tenths further up, or a tenth at least, so we're not terribly far away, but not ideal."
When asked if he thinks he can still have the pace from the sprint race, Hamilton said:
"I mean, I hope so. I really do hope so. We made some changes to improve race performance, but it was definitely harder on a single lap, so it's gonna be interesting tomorrow.
"It's a great track to race on. It's not a circuit where you only have one line everywhere, so that's the positive. But, you can see people still struggling to follow one another this morning. So how you use the tyres, when you use the tyres is going to be key tomorrow.
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
"I'm in a much different position as well, but I feel optimistic for tomorrow.
"I think I would like to get a good start and jump at least one car and then slowly make up. Tonight I'm just gonna make a master plan of how to win and I've got to try and execute it, but that's where my mindset is at."
Hamilton seems far more synchronous with the team this weekend. After a troublesome Australian Grand Prix last week, the seven-time champion has arrived in China with force, claiming the sprint pole, sprint win, and now a fifth-place start for the race tomorrow.
"I mean, it's gonna swing in roundabouts, right? It's gonna be ups and downs. And again this afternoon we didn't expect to be 5 and 6, or at least I didn't expect to be where I am. But it's what we can be faced with through the season.
"So, I've just got to try and stay calm. I'm gonna just give everything tomorrow and see where we turn."
Further integrating him into the Scuderia, Hamilton is clearly continuing to build a relationship with his new race engineer, Riccardo Adami, although this is something that will continue to build over time.
"We have a great rapport, so it's like everyone's saying that we don't. We genuinely already do, and it will continue to get better, but he's got a great sense of humour."
Hamilton's team-mate Charles Leclerc will start the Chinese Grand Prix alongside him in sixth position.
Photos from Chinese GP - Sprint Race & Qualifying
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