Lewis Hamilton received a hero’s welcome on the grid from the fans at the Chinese Grand Prix.
He performed brilliantly in Saturday’s Sprint Race, joining both Red Bull cars on the podium.
Unfortunately, a small mistake in qualifying saw him eliminated in Q1 and starting Sunday’s race in 18 place.
Lewis Hamilton was always facing an uphill battle to compete in Shanghai but came away with a couple of points to his name.
It was a very strong performance considering the circumstances, although he did benefit from two safety cars.
Mercedes gambled on Hamilton’s strategy, starting him on the soft tyre compound when the majority of the grid were on the mediums.
He complained from the start about the tyres and changed them relatively quickly, before starting to pick off the cars in front.
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How did Lewis Hamilton perform during the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix?
After starting alongside the Haas of Kevin Magnussen, Hamilton slowly made his way through the pack.
He gained a place when Valtteri Bottas retired from the race when his engine gave up and benefitted from another major talking point just a few laps later.
A concertina effect heading into the final hairpin on the restart saw Lance Stroll drive straight through the back of Daniel Ricciardo’s RB.
The Australian eventually retired, while Stroll had to pit for a new front wing and was given a penalty.
Hamilton was moving up the grid when the second safety car entered the pits and he picked off Nico Hulkenberg to briefly run in 8.
Fernando Alonso’s bizarre strategy didn’t pay off but he eventually found his way past Hamilton and the Brit picked up two unlikely points from 18.
Fans watching the Chinese Grand Prix were then left saying the same thing about Hamilton’s performance.
Considering he only finished three places behind George Russell, he didn’t lose too much ground on his teammate.
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Formula 1 give their verdict on Lewis Hamilton after the Chinese Grand Prix
There was a consensus after the chequered flag that the seven-time world champion did very well considering his circumstances.
One fan said after the race that, “Gaining 9 places is still amazing”, while another added that “Lewis Hamilton dragging that shopping trolley from P18 to P9” was a brilliant feat.
Lewis Hamilton’s GOAT status was confirmed by another of his fans, while another of his supporters concluded that: “Love you @LewisHamilton. Brilliant overtakes today to come into the points!
“Always proud. Lots of learning too. May we have a proper weekend in Miami, vamos!”
While Lewis Hamilton’s fans might have been pleased with his display during the Chinese Grand Prix, the 39-year-old and Mercedes will both be hoping for more in the upcoming races.
Nico Rosberg has said that Hamilton keeps making the same excuses for his struggles this season, but it’s clear that the car isn’t good enough to compete with Red Bull and Ferrari.
Russell only finished ahead of Oscar Piastri because the Australian was dealing with floor damage throughout the race.
Rosberg did enjoy a ‘super smart’ tactic Hamilton used in the Sprint Race, but having to battle with way through from the back of the grid limited his opportunities to highlight why he’s a seven-time world champion.
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