Several drivers - most notably Max Verstappen and Lando Norris - voiced strong criticism of the new regulations, a view that sharply contrasts with that of the seven-time world champion.

Speaking with GPblog and other media after the race, he said: “I personally loved it. I thought the race was really fun to drive. I thought the car was really, really fun to drive. And I watched the cars ahead. There was good battling back and forth. So far, so good.

When it was pointed out to him that several of his fellow drivers had been highly critical, the Briton added: “I don't know, you have to ask them. For me, I thought it was awesome. Again, they're all from further down the line with 20 cars ahead of you. They may seem different, but in my position, I thought it was great.”

Hamilton’s performance in the Australian Grand Prix drew widespread praise from the British media after the Ferrari driver narrowly missed out on a podium finish in Melbourne.

Although the podium ultimately slipped through his fingers by less than a second, Hamilton spent the closing stages piling relentless pressure on his teammate, remaining firmly in contention until the very final laps.