Hamilton’s ‘masterclass’ in Chinese GP sparks glowing praise: ‘He drove brilliantly’

The seven-time world champion finally managed to break the curse of a first podium that had seemed to take forever to arrive, getting the better of his teammate after a heart-stopping duel that lasted several laps.

Speaking on the Up to Speed podcast, the former British driver highlighted the Ferrari driver’s superb performance, also pointing out how well he appears to be adapting to the new regulations.

Hamilton was among the first to celebrate Antonelli’s breakthrough victory, showering the young Italian with praise after he brought Italy back to the top step of the podium for the first time in twenty years. The seven-time world champion also marked the moment on Instagram, sharing a selfie the two took together during the post-race press conference.

Upon returning from the Shanghai trip, Antonelli spoke to Italian media and returned the gesture, highlighting how much he appreciated Hamilton’s enthusiasm after the win. The Mercedes driver described their photo together as the picture of the year and stressed how meaningful the support was coming from a driver of Hamilton’s stature.

Antonelli also pointed out that the Briton has backed him for a long time, including since the moment their careers crossed paths at Ferrari and Mercedes, adding that the two share a very good relationship.