Following his first victory as a Ferrari driver in the Chinese Grand Prix sprint race, Lewis Hamilton tempered enthusiasm for Saturday’s qualifying, stating, ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day.’
After a challenging Ferrari debut in Australia the previous weekend, where Hamilton struggled and finished 10th in wet conditions, his performance dramatically improved during Saturday’s 19-lap sprint race.
Speaking post-race, he addressed critics who he felt underestimated the difficulties of switching teams, emphasizing the need for patience in his quest for more wins.
‘The amount of critics I’ve heard along the way clearly don’t understand, perhaps lacking the experience or awareness. It feels great to be comfortable in the car here, unlike in Melbourne.’
He added, ‘I don’t feel pressure. I know the Tifosi, the fans, and the team want to win, and it means everything to them.’
‘But as I said, Rome wasn’t built in a day. We take it one step at a time, without getting ahead of ourselves. We will continue to push, be diligent, and stay focused and calm – even when moments get exciting.’
‘We’ll refocus after this and concentrate on qualifying this afternoon. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.’
When asked about responding to detractors early in the season, Hamilton commented, ‘I’m not really responding to them directly.’
‘It’s just that we live in a time where negativity is easily amplified, even about minor things. It’s a challenging aspect of our current world.’
‘I notice certain individuals, though I don’t follow all news, making uneducated guesses about the situation. Some people I’ve admired for years are speaking carelessly.’
‘As I mentioned, there’s a lack of understanding. Moving to a new team with a different operational style and car characteristics is not simple. Success takes time to build.’
‘That’s my aim. I’m not trying to rush or get ahead. I’m taking the time to build with this great team.’
Reflecting on the Australian Grand Prix, Hamilton shared that he approached his new race engineer, Riccardo Adami, at the start of the week with ideas to improve the car’s setup for China.
‘Entering this weekend, I immediately contacted Riccardo on Monday, suggesting starting points for the weekend, a direction I felt more comfortable with.’
‘This approach was based on Bahrain preseason testing, which we deviated from in Australia. After some adjustments, I felt more connected to the car from the start of driving yesterday.’
‘I’m still learning how to use the tools to make the car perform as I want. I’m pleased with the progress given the circumstances.’
‘Now, I have a clearer understanding of the car’s preferences and what adjustments are needed for more speed.’
