Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes/9th): “It’s my responsibility” / Formula 1

It was a Grand Prix like many of Lewis Hamilton in the era of winged cars from the beginning of 2022: the 103 times GP winner came on the radio from time to time with sentences that seemed a little desperate.

The 39-year-old Englishman once complained about the choice of tires (“this tire feels bad”), as he did at the start of the Chinese GP on the soft Pirelli. The seven-time F1 champion complained about the overall speed: “Our car is too slow.”

But in the middle, the Brit showed a very strong time and a great maneuverability, and it is not considered that he can win two points of the championship with a Mercedes racing car that is difficult to set up.

Hamilton after 56 laps at the Shanghai International Circuit: “I’m grateful that I managed to get into the top ten, there’s not much more to be expected after qualifying in failure.”

Hamilton takes part of the responsibility for the bad performance in qualifying: “That’s on me. On Saturday I asked for a configuration change, and later I had to pay a lot for this bad decision. I have to learn something from this for the future.”

“Nothing has changed here in Shanghai: the car is fast, but only when it is in a working window.”

“I hope that we can make a step forward next weekend at the Miami GP, then we will have some improvements to the car.”

China-GP, Shanghai International Circuit

01. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 1:40:52,554 h
02. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, +13.773
03. Sergio Pérez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, +19,160
04. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, +23,623
05. Carlos Sainz (E), Ferrari, +33,983
06. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, +38,724
07. Fernando Alonso (E), Aston Martin, +43,414
08. Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren, +56.198
09. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, +57,986
10. Nico Hülkenberg (D), Haas, +1:00,476 min
11. Esteban Ocon (F), Alpine, +1:02,812
12. Alex Albon (T), Williams, +1:05,506
13. Pierre Gasly (F), Alpine, +1:09,223
14. Guanyu Zhou (RCH), Sauber, +1:11,689
15. Lance Stroll (CDN), Aston Martin, +1:22,768
16. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, +1:27.553
17. Logan Sargeant (USA), Williams, +1:35,110
outside
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), Racing Bull, collision
Yuki Tsunoda (J), Racing Bulls, Collision
Valtteri Bottas (FIN), clean, engine

World Championship Position (after 5 out of 24 Grands Prix and 1 out of 6 Sprints)

the driver
01. Verstappen 110 points
02. Perez 85
03. Leclerc 76
04. Sainz 69
05. Norris 58
06. Plate 38
07. Russell 33
08. Alonso 31
09. Hamilton 19
10. Walk 9
11. Tsunoda 7
12. Oliver Bearman (GB) 6
13. Hulkenberg 4
14. Magnussen 1
15. Alboni 0
16. Okon 0
17. Zhou 0
18. Ricciardo 0
19. 0 gas
20. Bota 0
21. Sergeant 0

Builders Cup
01. Red Bull Racing 195 Punkte
02. Ferrari 151
03. McLaren 96
04. Mercedes 52
05. Aston Martin 40
06. Running Bull 7
07. Exactly 5
08. Williams 0
09. Alpine 0
10. Sauber 0