DHL Fastest Pit Stop Award

Ferrari's China show: Hamilton's first podium, DHL Fastest Pit Stop and a thrilling duel

Lewis Hamilton's sprint victory in China in 2025 was the sole highlight of his first season with Ferrari, but 2026 is starting to look a lot brighter for them. In the new Formula 1 era, the Scuderia is the only team that can keep pace with Mercedes. In Saturday's sprint race, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton crossed the finish line right behind winner George Russell.

At the start of the main race on Sunday, Hamilton initially took the lead, but after two laps, Kimi Antonelli was able to reclaim it. Shortly after, George Russell also got past. A safety car on lap ten then gave Hamilton the chance to close in on Mercedes again.

Both Silver Arrows pitted ahead of the seven-times champion, with Leclerc just 2.3 seconds behind his team-mate. Hamilton's new hard tires were fitted in just 2.29 seconds. The Ferrari pit crew were one second faster than Mercedes, claiming the DHL Fastest Pit Stop for the Shanghai weekend.

In race trim, the Mercedes pace was too strong. However, Leclerc and Hamilton weren't going to let that spoil the fun and so treated fans to one of the best wheel-to-wheel duels in recent years. Ultimately, Hamilton prevailed to secure a first podium in his 26 races for Ferrari.

No other driver in the history of the legendary outfit has taken this long to achieve it. Now the curse is broken, and Hamilton is overjoyed: "I started this voyage and this dream of moving to Ferrari and being on the top step with them, and this podium has taken longer than I hoped. But it is a very special day. It was one of the most enjoyable races that I have had in a long time, if ever."