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Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton said the Chinese Grand Prix was 'one of the most enjoyable F1 races ever' as he snared his first grand prix podium for the Scuderia.
Hamilton won China's sprint race from pole last year, but that was a rare highlight in a tough debut campaign as he struggled to gel with his scarlet machinery.
But following a short winter to recharge his batteries, the seven-time world champion looks revitalised as he has found F1's new-for-2026 cars much more to his liking, qualifying ahead of team-mate Charles Leclerc in China before going on to take his first proper grand prix podium for the Maranello squad.
Lewis Hamilton congratulates his Mercedes successor Kimi Antonelli on his maiden grand prix win.
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Lewis Hamilton congratulates his Mercedes successor Kimi Antonelli on his maiden grand prix win.
After battling Leclerc and both Mercedes cars wheel-to-wheel for the majority of the race, Hamilton claimed the Chinese Grand Prix had been one of the most entertaining races he has been a part of, while also saluting his Mercedes successor Kimi Antonelli.
"Well, firstly I have to say a huge congratulations to Kimi. I'm so so happy for you, buddy, and I'm so honoured to be able to share this moment with him," Hamilton said. "He took my seat obviously at this great team, so big congratulations to Mercedes.
"We've got a lot of work to do to try and keep up but I had so much fun. It's one of the most enjoyable races that I've had in a long, long time, if ever. The fact that the cars are the way they are this year and that battle with Charles at the end was awesome, great wheel-to-wheel battle, very fair and just what we want.
"I think there was one moment we did touch, but it was just a kiss so it's okay. But that's what it's about. It's about tough racing."
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"I think there was one moment we did touch, but it was just a kiss so it's okay."
Photo by: Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images
Hamilton briefly catapulted into the lead as the Ferrari's superior starts again proved a valuable advantage. But as the race went on, Mercedes' real advantage emerged, with the Ferraris having taken too much life out of their tyres in their desperate battle to take the fight to Mercedes, which they paid the price for later on.
"They're really pulling ahead at the moment," he added. "I've got to say a huge thank you to everyone at Ferrari, everyone back at Maranello for getting us into this position. I know it's not exactly where we want to be. We want to be up front where these guys are, but we've got a great platform to work off and we've just got to go literally full gas."
Photos from Chinese GP - Sunday
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Alexander Albon, Williams, Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team
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Alexander Albon, Williams, Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Alexandra Leclerc and Carmen Montero Mundt walk in the paddock.
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Alexandra Leclerc and Carmen Montero Mundt walk in the paddock.
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
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Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Lando Norris, McLaren
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Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing, Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team
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Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing, Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Team
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Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
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Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
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Pierre Gasly, Alpine
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Pierre Gasly, Alpine
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Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
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Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
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Felix Lee looks on in the paddock.
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Felix Lee looks on in the paddock.
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Muni He walks in the paddock.
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Muni He walks in the paddock.
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Gene Haas, Founder and Chairman of Haas F1
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Gene Haas, Founder and Chairman of Haas F1
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George Russell, Mercedes, Alexander Albon, Williams
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George Russell, Mercedes, Alexander Albon, Williams
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Fans of Lewis Hamilton
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Fans of Lewis Hamilton
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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George Russell, Mercedes, Alexander Albon, Williams
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George Russell, Mercedes, Alexander Albon, Williams
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
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Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
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George Russell, Mercedes
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George Russell, Mercedes
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Pierre Gasly, Alpine
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Pierre Gasly, Alpine
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
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Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
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Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
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Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Pierre Gasly, Alpine
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Pierre Gasly, Alpine
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
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Isack Hadjar, Red Bull Racing
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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George Russell, Mercedes
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George Russell, Mercedes
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Start action
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Start action
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Carlos Sainz, Williams
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Carlos Sainz, Williams
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
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Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
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Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
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Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
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Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
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Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Franco Colapinto, Alpine crash
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Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Franco Colapinto, Alpine crash
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Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Franco Colapinto, Alpine crash
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Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Franco Colapinto, Alpine crash
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Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Franco Colapinto, Alpine
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Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Franco Colapinto, Alpine
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
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Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Toto Wolff, Mercedes
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Toto Wolff, Mercedes
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, George Russell, Mercedes, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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George Russell, Mercedes
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George Russell, Mercedes
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Read Also:
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