Lewis Hamilton pinpoints the ‘biggest difference’ between his Ferrari and Mercedes’ 2026 F1 car

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Lewis Hamilton finally ended his Ferrari podium drought at the Chinese Grand Prix, but he could not catch his former team as Mercedes grabbed another 1-2 finish.

The seven-time champion stood on the podium in red at the 26th attempt as he finished third at the Chinese Grand Prix. Taking the lead at the start after another brilliant launch, Hamilton eventually fell behind Kimi Antonelli, who claimed his maiden F1 win.

Hamilton enjoyed a tough battle with Charles Leclerc throughout the race, which opened the door for George Russell to claim second. The Brit would win the intra-team fight as he grabbed a well-deserved podium.

Hamilton immediately congratulated Antonelli after the race as the Italian became the second-youngest F1 winner in history. But the Ferrari driver was also left ruing over how Mercedes had the advantage over their Italian rivals.

Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari ‘can’t defend’ against Mercedes’ power down the straights

Speaking via Motorsport Italia after the Chinese GP, Hamilton explained that his SF-26 is ‘just as strong’ as the Mercedes W17 on the corners. However, Ferrari lack the Silver Arrows’ power on the straights.

“Right now, the biggest difference between us and Mercedes is power,” he said. “They have an advantage on the straights, they have a great engine.

“It’s all speculation, but I think they started developing before us. I don’t know if it’s because they have a bigger turbo than us, but they have more power.

A maiden Grand Prix win for Kimi Antonelli, as well as a first podium appearance for Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari! 🍾

What was your favourite moment of Antonelli's debut win?

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“When we’re on the straights, you can see it. When they overtake us, they seem to fly and we can’t defend ourselves. On the corners, however, we’re just as strong as them.”

“Maybe we’ll work not just on the engine, but also on straight-line aerodynamic efficiency. Fingers crossed, and hopefully we can catch and beat them.”

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family

Chinese GP reaffirms that Lewis Hamilton is back to his best

With two races done in 2026, it is clear that Hamilton is much more comfortable with the new regulations and cars. The change to his demeanour is noticeable, as he appears more positive at Ferrari.

The 41-year-old is closing the gap to teammate Leclerc after being dominated by the Monegasque driver in 2025. Hamilton got the better of him in Shanghai, setting up an exciting battle in 2026.

Fred Vasseur says Hamilton is finally ‘pushing’ Leclerc at Ferrari in the SF-26. The only problem now is whether the Maranello outfit can gain an advantage over Mercedes and start winning races.