Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes/2nd): “Almost forgotten” / Formula 1

#Lewis #Hamilton #Mercedes2nd #forgotten #Formula

​Sprint premiere in China: For the first time, the premier class showed one of the short Saturday races at the Shanghai International Circuit. Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton takes a strong second place.

It was finally the Lewis Hamilton we love again: second place for the seven-time Formula 1 world champion in the entertaining sprint from China, after a performance that was worth seeing.

The 39-year-old Mercedes driver drove an impressive race and is visibly happy after the 19 laps on the Shanghai International Circuit: “I had almost forgotten what it feels like to lead a race!”

Hamilton started much better than pole man Lando Norris and then extended his elbows: “I got off better than Lando and stayed on the inside, he tried his luck on the outside. We were both at the limit, then he ran out of road.”

«If you get too far out in the first corner, you end up on the dirty part of the track and you slide off the track with understeer. That’s exactly what happened to Lando. He should have taken off the accelerator more intelligently and got in line behind me. McLaren is faster than us, he would have had enough time to catch me later.”

The fans rubbed their eyes: Hamilton in the lead, seemingly on his way to victory. When was the last time Lewis won a Formula 1 race? It was on December 5, 2021 in Saudi Arabia.

Lewis continued: “So I was in the lead and had to make an effort not to give Alonso a chance behind me. I’m happy that I was able to lead a race again, but it was clear to me that at some point Verstappen would be coming from behind.”

“We are still weak in slow corners and today was no different. I had no chance against Verstappen, he’s in a different league. I’m grateful for this second place, but I also know that 90 percent of it came about because of the rain on Friday in the sprint qualifying. It’s not like we have a completely different car today. Our problems are still the same.”

Amazing: Lewis Hamilton has never won a sprint.

Sprint, Shanghai International Circuit

01. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 32:04,160 min
02. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, +13,043 sec
03. Sergio Pérez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, +15,258
04. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, +17,486
05. Carlos Sainz (E), Ferrari, +20,696
06. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, +22.099
07. Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren, +24.713
08. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, +25,696
09. Guanyu Zhou (RCH), Sauber, +31,951
10. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, +37.398
11. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), Racing Bulls, +37,840
12. Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Sauber, +38.295
13. Esteban Ocon (F), Alpine, +39,841
14. Lance Stroll (CDN), Aston Martin, +40,299
15. Pierre Gasly (F), Alpine, +40,838
16. Yuki Tsunoda (J), Racing Bulls, +41,870
17. Alex Albon (T), Williams, +42,998
18. Logan Sargeant (USA), Williams, +46,352
19. Nico Hülkenberg (D), Haas, +49,630
Out
Fernando Alonso (E), Aston Martin, tire damage

World Championship standings (after 4 of 24 Grands Prix and 1 of 6 Sprints)

driver
01. Verstappen 85 points
02. Pérez 70
03. Leclerc 64
04. Sainz 59
05. Norris 40
06. Plates 34
07. Russell 25
08. Alonso 24
09. Hamilton 17
10. Stroll 7
11. Tsunoda 7
12. Oliver Bearman (GB) 6
13. Hulkenberg 3
14. Magnussen 1
15. Albon 0
16. Zhou 0
17. Ricciardo 0
18. Ocon 0
19. Gasly 0
20. Bottas 0
21. Sargeant 0

Constructors’ Cup
01. Red Bull Racing 155 Punkte
02. Ferrari 129
03. McLaren 74
04. Mercedes 42
05. Aston Martin 33
06. Racing Bulls 7
07. Haas 4
08. Williams 0
09. Sauber 0
10. Alpine 0