4-time F1 race winner Eddie Irvine says he “will not take it with no consideration” that Lewis Hamilton’s podium in China signifies a real comeback for the Ferrari driver.
The seven-time world champion achieved his first podium for Ferrari ultimately month’s Chinese language Grand Prix, 12 months after his first dash victory with the Scuderia.
Lewis Hamilton endured a tricky first season with Ferrari in 2025, however has tailored nicely to the brand new automotive rules and proven to be rather more aggressive at the beginning of the present marketing campaign.
In Australia he completed 4th, lacking out on the rostrum to teammate Charles Leclerc, however in China he beat Monaco in a tense race to maneuver as much as third place.
Hamilton is in 4th place within the drivers’ rankings, with Leclerc, who was third in Japan, dropping to sixth, leaving him 8 factors behind.
Irvine, who raced for Ferrari from 1996 to 1999, highlighted the outcome as cause to be cautious of Hamilton’s obvious return to type.
“It is all the time very difficult for the pink crew,” he mentioned in an interview in Italy.
“The issue is the space from Nice Britain within the F1 world, however in comparison with final 12 months I believe we will get no less than one win.
“I do not take[Hamilton’s podium]with no consideration. In China he was on the rostrum for the primary time with a Ferrari and that was his circuit.
“However in Japan he was shedding to Charles Leclerc all weekend.”
Hamilton mentioned after the Japanese Grand Prix that he was apprehensive about his lack of energy in comparison with the drivers round him.
“It was okay. It was a extremely common weekend for me,” he mentioned on the time.
“I used to be simply fighting energy for some cause within the race, I used to be simply down, I used to be enjoying protection the entire time.
“In the present day it appeared like everybody round us had extra energy, so we have to perceive if the engine is down or what, and why.
“You simply should determine it out.”
Hamilton’s fourth, third and sixth locations have been his finest begin to a season since 2023, when Mercedes completed fifth, fifth and second within the opening three races.
It took the British driver 4 races to interrupt into the highest 5 in 2025 with Ferrari.
