Hamilton returns to scene of his only Ferrari victory as Mercedes’ Russell looks to extend winning streak in China

Ferrari have won nothing in Formula One since Lewis Hamilton’s sprint victory in Shanghai a year ago and this ‌weekend’s return to China is a chance for both to close a circle.

Ferrari, who last won a grand prix in 2024, ​were Mercedes’ closest rivals in the Australian season-opener last weekend with Charles Leclerc third and Hamilton fourth behind the one-two of ‌George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.

“For me, the ‌prevailing feeling is now we have a fight on our hands with Ferrari,” said Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff after Melbourne. Mercedes will still be the team to beat, with Russell again the hot favourite, but after the worst season of his stellar career -- without even a grand prix ‌podium in 2025 -- seven-times world champion Hamilton is sounding more optimistic ahead of round two.

Could a first Hamilton podium for Ferrari be on the cards?

The team have a loyal following in China, where the colour red symbolises happiness and good fortune, and Hamilton is also the most successful driver there with six wins from previous stints at McLaren and Mercedes. That only went so far last year, with Hamilton winning on Saturday before both cars were disqualified on Sunday.

“Of course, we’re not as fast as Mercedes, we’ve got work to do, but we’re right in the fight,” said Hamilton after last Sunday’s race in Melbourne. “I do believe we can close the gap.” ​Leclerc said he had been positively surprised with the race pace in Melbourne but Shanghai, the first sprint weekend of ‌the sport’s new engine and chassis revolution, represented another big challenge.

“I think it’s going to be super crucial to be straight on top of everything, which will be extremely difficult,” said the Monegasque.

“To have a Sprint race so early on in a season like this will be a huge challenge for everybody.”

The sprint format means only one hour-long Friday practice session, at a time when every lap counts for teams getting to grips with their new cars, but also more points on offer with eight for the Saturday winner.

The Australian Grand Prix had 120 overtakes compared to 45 a year ​earlier, with the ‌lead changing hands repeatedly early on as Russell and Leclerc charged and deployed energy from the increased electrical component.

The Shanghai circuit has ‌two long straights and Russell, leading the championship for the first time but with the jury still out on Formula One’s new way of racing, suggested China would be very different. “You’ve got one big, long straight, so the majority of drivers will be using their energy on that one straight,” he said. “You ‌don’t need to divide ‌it up between four like...in Melbourne.”

Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur agreed: “Conditions will be probably much colder in China. And we’ll have the Sprint format - it means much less time to adapt ‌the strategy. It will be a completely different exercise.”

McLaren looked the third fastest team in Australia with champion Lando Norris, after teammate Oscar Piastri crashed before the start.

Piastri won the main race from pole in China last year, with Norris second for the second year in a row.

Red Bull, who had only four-times world champion Max Verstappen finish last Sunday after ​Isack Hadjar retired during the race, also hope for better. Aston Martin face a far tougher weekend after struggling with powertrain problems and unable to do many laps. The chances of them even finishing in Shanghai look remote.

“That will be optimistic but we can try,” said Fernando Alonso, a two times winner in Shanghai.

Charles Leclerc said Thursday he hoped the Chinese year of the horse would bring Ferrari luck in Shanghai after a torrid race there 12 months ago.

Both Ferraris were sensationally disqualified from the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix after the race for “excessive plank wear” on the undersides of their cars.

China ushered in the new year of the horse last month and Leclerc reckoned that could be a good omen for Ferrari, who famously feature a back prancing horse or “Cavallino” on their badges.

“I’ve been with the team for many years and I’ve been waiting for the year of the horse since the first year I joined the team,” the driver from Monaco told reporters ahead of this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix.

“I hope that this year is our one, but we are against very tough competition,” added Leclerc, who was third in the season-opener in Australia last weekend.

Leclerc and teammate Lewis Hamilton came in behind the two Mercedes of race winner George Russell and Kimi Antonelli.

“I think Mercedes are quite a bit ahead at the moment but little by little, I think we can catch them,” said Leclerc.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton was a surprise winner of the sprint race at the Shanghai International Circuit last year in an otherwise difficult debut season in an underperforming 2025 Ferrari.

Hamilton is much happier this season, but cautioned it was still early days.

The Englishman said it was “far too early” to say if Ferrari could challenge for the drivers’ or constructors’ championships.

“I think it will still be very tough to beat Mercedes this weekend,” Hamilton told reporters.

“You have to assume the others will be picking up the pace, McLaren will pick up the pace and the second Red Bull will be in the fight as well.

“So I think we will just focus on doing the best job we can and extracting the most from the ca