Hamilton & Co. Secure Mercedes Dominance at Grand Prix!
After a season of a downtrodden and defeated Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time champion finds himself celebrating on the podium with his former team and giddy about his on-track battles.
Hamilton Praises Driver Who 'Took His Seat' Rudy Carezzevoli - Getty Images Lewis Hamilton secured his first Grand Prix podium with Ferrari in the second race of his second season since leaving Mercedes on Sunday afternoon. Hamilton joined his former team on the podium of the Chinese Grand Prix, sharing the spotlight with his former teammate, George Russell, and the young prodigy, Kimi Antonelli, who replaced him. Hamilton was close to a podium last week in the 2026 F1 season opener, with him and his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc trading third throughout the Australian Grand Prix; instead, the podium came a week later, allowing the seven-time champion to be on stage for one of the biggest moments of his replacement's life.
Hamilton, along with Russell, ensured the post-race coverage focused on Antonelli's success in capturing his first win and his becoming the second-youngest driver to do so, behind Max Verstappen. "Firstly, I have to say huge congratulations to Kimi," Hamilton said post-race. "I’m so, so happy for you, buddy, and I’m so honored to be able to share this moment with you.
You know, he took my seat on this great team. Big congratulations to Mercedes; they’re really pulling ahead at the moment. We have a lot of work to do to try and keep up.
" Russell pointed out that it felt special to have Hamilton on the podium with him and Antonelli for the young driver's first win. "Huge congratulations to Kimi because it’s always very special to win your first race, and he obviously has been driving really amazingly this year, this weekend especially. It’s special to be standing on the podium with him and also this guy [Hamilton].