Lewis Hamilton: Ferrari driver plans ‘different tactic’ for Chinese GP race against Mercedes as Kimi Antonelli takes pole | F1 News

Lewis Hamilton hailed Kimi Antonelli for changing into the primary teenager to say a Grand Prix pole place, earlier than turning his focus to formulating a “different tactic” to show his early Mercedes-challenging tempo from the Shanghai Sprint right into a stronger end in Sunday’s full-length race.

Just over a yr after changing Hamilton as George Russell’s team-mate when the seven-time world champion moved to Ferrari, the 19-year-old Antonelli grew to become F1’s youngest-ever polesitter on Saturday – beating Sebastian Vettel’s file, which had stood since 2008, by a full 20 months.

Hamilton certified third behind Antonelli and Russell – whose bid for successive Grand Prix poles initially of the brand new season was compromised by electrical issues – and, after congratulating the younger record-breaker in parc ferme, paid tribute to the Italian teenager when sitting subsequent to him within the post-qualifying press convention.

“I have to say a big congratulations to this big lad here, to Kimi,” mentioned Hamilton, F1’s record-holder with 104 pole positions.

“It’s a tremendous achievement to return into… Well, he took my seat! And he hit it laborious from the get-go, so it is actually nice to see him progressing and he actually deserves it.

“And a great record. It’s going to take a while for someone to ever get close to that one.”

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff awning Sky Sports F1: “Many mentioned the child was too younger, the child was too younger to be in a Mercedes, we should always have ready him in any other case.

“And the kid did good today.”

‘I’ve to determine a distinct tactic’ – Hamilton vows to be taught Sprint classes

Antonelli will now bid to make it third time fortunate from the grid this yr having misplaced floor from second place at each the beginning of final weekend’s Australian Grand Prix and Saturday’s Shanghai Sprint.

By distinction, Ferrari have made lightning getaways to this point this season with Hamilton on Saturday following team-mate Charles Leclerc’s lead from Melbourne by seizing the lead from Russell on the primary lap of the Sprint and dueling with the title favourite over the race’s opening laps.

However, having seen his tire put on endure and finally lose out on second place to Leclerc within the 19-lap sprint, Hamilton advised Sky Sports F1: “I have to figure out a different tactic tomorrow.

“Today was the primary time I used to be in that battle with the vitality deployment.

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“I made some changes to the deployment going into qualifying, which was better for us, and hopefully better for us tomorrow.

“Something occurs after they get to qualifying, they’re able to eek out extra energy someway. For us, I’ve to determine one thing totally different as a result of I can not kill the tires like I did at present.

“I need to go the distance tomorrow and figure out how I can keep pace, like I did in the last race [in Australia]”

Hamilton, nonetheless chasing his first podium end for the Italian workforce heading into his twenty sixth race for them, added within the press convention: “It’s still going to be a challenge, but I’m sure we’ll have some fun.

“I’m wanting ahead to it. We discovered quite a bit within the Sprint race, so let’s hope tomorrow just isn’t as windy as this, and our objective is to try to break the hole between these [Mercedes] guys someway.”

Ferrari haven’t received a Grand Prix since October 2024 and, whereas downplaying their probabilities of defeating the Silver Arrows right here, Hamilton remains to be hopeful that “maybe there’s a way” to take action over the 56-lap distance.

“I think it’s highly unlikely that we will be able to beat them in the race. I mean, in our statistics they’ve got some between four and six tenths race pace,” added Hamilton.

“Whether or not we saw that in the first race or not, I think in clear air they’re just above us at the moment.

“So, I do not know, possibly with technique, possibly one thing can occur, possibly with the beginning, possibly there is a method. I undoubtedly want to verify I do not kill my tires attempting to both sustain with them or hold one behind. I have to drive higher.”

Can Mercedes maintain off flying Ferraris at begin?

After battery issues had initially floor his W17 to a halt on his out lap in Q3, Russell and Mercedes recovered impressively to safe one other front-row lockout for the workforce.

The Briton remains to be favourite to win Sunday’s race and keep his good begin to the season however is cautious of the menace Ferrari’s Hamilton and Leclerc – this time beginning in tandem on the second row – pose to each him and Antonelli once more initially particularly.

“If we can hold one-two, it will be challenging for them to fight because I do think we have a slight advantage,” Russell advised Sky Sports F1.

“Of course, we cannot do something foolish between us. It’s the primary time we’ve them each on the second row collectively and we all know how shortly we’re off the road.

“If we are one-two after Turn One, I will be happy but I think we all know it won’t be simple.”

And Antonelli, who would develop into F1’s second-youngest race winner after Max Verstappen have been he to transform pole right into a maiden victory, mentioned: “[Ferrari] definitely look very sturdy, particularly additionally on chilly tires.

“They look like they’ve got good pace, but of course also the start is a very strong point of theirs. So yeah, just going to try to have a clean start and then we’ll see from there.”

Sky Sports F1’s Chinese GP schedule

Sunday March 15
2.35am: F1 Academy Race 2*
5.30am: Chinese GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
7am: THE CHINESE GRAND PRIX*
9am: Chinese GP response: Checkered Flag*
10am: Ted’s Notebook*

*Also on Sky Sports Main Event

Formula 1 is in Shanghai for the primary Sprint weekend of the 2026 season on the Chinese Grand Prix, reside on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime