Long stints, Lewis Hamilton's main weapon to aim for a comeback?

A day in two completely opposite parts. This is what I experienced Lewis Hamilton this Saturday in Shanghai. Untouchable during the Sprint Race, signing in the process his first “feat of arms” with the Team, the seven-time world champion was unable to continue during the traditional qualifications.

If he held on to 5th place, once again overtaking Charles Leclerc, the Englishman appeared very far behind. With almost three tenths of a gap with Oscar piastri, he could never hope to fight for the first position or even a Top 3, dominated by the McLaren and George Russell.

Hamilton more comfortable over time than over a single lap

The neo-rosso was nevertheless keen to point out that his last attempt had not been the best. He could certainly have sought a few hundredths here and there, like most of his rivals such as Lando Norris who aborted his last round or Max Verstappen 4th, almost 2 tenths behind.

This isn't enough to discourage Lewis Hamilton, who is confident in the strengths of his Ferrari, which performs better on long runs than on a flying lap. His feelings after the changes made after the sprint allow him to approach the Grand Prix with great optimism.

« We made some changes to the car straight after sprint qualifying to rectify some issues we were having, he reported. [My] The lap wasn't the cleanest, especially towards the end, and I probably should have been a few places higher or at least one place.

We're not terribly far off, but it's not ideal. We made some changes to improve race performance, but it was definitely harder over a single lap, so it's going to be interesting. »

To do this, the interested party could draw inspiration from his performance in the Sprint Race during which he dashed the hopes of Oscar Piastri, relegated to more than 5 seconds. The characteristics of the Shanghai track seem to please him to the point of showing confidence to perhaps begin a comeback on Sunday.

« It's a great track for racing, adds Hamilton. It's not a one-line circuit. That's the good thing, you can see people struggling to keep up with each other, like [during the Sprint]. How the tires are managed will be key. I can do the same thing. [than in Sprint] But again, I'm in a very different position. I remain optimistic. I'd like to get off to a good start and pass at least one car.. » Before attacking a little more to get his first podium with the Scuderia, or even more?

ALSO READ > In China, is the hierarchy impossible to predict? “Everyone is a little lost”