Lewis Hamilton fires back at F1 critics: ‘Nowhere near my success’

Particularly towards the end of the 2025 campaign, when Hamilton became the first Ferrari driver in over 40 years not to score a podium in a full season, the seven-time world champion’s place in the sport was questioned by the likes of Ralf Schumacher and former Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg.

Now, however, Hamilton is clearly more comfortable with the 2026 generation of cars, having battled fiercely with teammate Charles Leclerc on a number of occasions and securing his long-awaited first Ferrari podium in Shanghai.

The Briton sits in P4 in the Drivers’ standings, just eight points off Leclerc, while Ferrari currently look like the strongest challengers to favourites Mercedes, despite trailing the Silver Arrows by 45 points in the Constructors’.

In a recent interview with F1 TV, reflecting on the Shanghai podium and a return to form in red, Hamilton has made more comments that have echoed his response to Rosberg in December, when he said: “None of them have done what I’ve done.”

Hamilton told F1 TV: “When you have difficult years, there’s lots of questions all over the place.

“I saw some of the certain individuals that hadn’t had anywhere near the success that I’d had, just talking negatively, as they continue to do so today.

“And it felt great to be able to come back and come into this season and start off strong, to be able to show that I still have what it takes to compete at the front.

“I’ll continue to try and show up and deliver in that way.”

When asked about the impact of that first podium in Shanghai, Hamilton was pleased to report a boost to morale in the Ferrari garage, which the 41-year-old praised for always being “positive and supportive” despite the difficult 2025 season.

“Honestly, it was huge. The team have been amazing for the past year. Particularly in the garage, the support has been immense.

“Every weekend fell short last year, and I’d come back and you feel gutted, you feel bad that you’ve ultimately not been able to deliver for the team. But they’re always like, ‘Next time, next time’. They’re always just so positive and supportive.

“So to finally have the podium, and come back and see how happy and how grateful they were to be a part of it, and for us to have that result, really warmed my heart.

“So that just encourages me to continue to push even harder and continue to dig deep and continue to build with the team.”