Lewis Hamilton has described sharing his first Ferrari podium with Mercedes as “like sitting here with my whole family”, with the seven-time World Champion joined by Kimi Antonelli, George Russell and former Race Engineer Pete Bonnington on the rostrum.<\/p>\n
Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix proved to be special in more ways than one for Hamilton<\/a>, as he finally secured his first podium for the Scuderia after leaving the Silver Arrows for Ferrari<\/a> in a blockbuster move ahead of the 2025 season.<\/p>\n But what made the moment more emotional was the presence of former team mate Russell, 19-year-old Antonelli \u2013 who took his maiden F1 win in China<\/a> and had replaced Hamilton at Mercedes \u2013 as well as Bonnington (often known as ‘Bono’), the Race Engineer who had worked alongside the Briton for so long at the Brackley-based outfit.<\/p>\n Speaking after the race on Sunday, Hamilton was quick to congratulate Antonelli on becoming F1’s second-youngest race winner in history, although their respective age gap of 22 years left the Briton more than a little bemused.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve already said it, but a huge congratulations to this one here [Antonelli] because it was amazing yesterday to be up here with him whilst he got his first pole, and now to get the first win… It\u2019s truly special getting your first Grand Prix win, I remember getting my first,\u201d Hamilton said, with his own maiden win taken at the 2007 Canadian Grand Prix.<\/p>\n \u201cI was one year old, by the way,\u201d Antonelli retorted, sitting next to the Briton in the post-race press conference.<\/p>\n \u201cHa! You were born in 2006, right?” Hamilton responded. “That\u2019s ridiculous! So, it\u2019s amazing to see that. After so many years and then seeing him come through and seeing talented young people who truly deserve it get to the top, it\u2019s really awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n The two drivers had shared a touching moment after the race, with Hamilton quick to hug and congratulate his Mercedes rival, but what made the entire experience more special was the presence of the seven-time World Champion’s former Race Engineer on the podium.<\/p>\n Bonnington guided Hamilton to all his titles with Mercedes<\/a>, and was the voice so many fans heard calling for \u2018Hammertime\u2019 over the years. Now he is the calm voice on the end of the radio for Antonelli, as the teenager navigates his way in the world of F1.<\/p>\n As a result, it was fitting that Mercedes chose their Head of Race Engineering to pick up the Constructors\u2019 trophy in China alongside both his former and current drivers.<\/p>\n Hamilton added: \u201cObviously to have been such a part of Mercedes through my career \u2014 they supported me from almost day one, 1997, I was 13 \u2014 so to then go through that journey with them and have the success with them, and obviously George and I had some difficult years in that past era, so it\u2019s really special to see them back at the front because it\u2019s a phenomenal team.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I know we\u2019ve got our work cut out to beat them because when they\u2019re on form like this it\u2019s not easy to beat. To see George come through the sport and then get to Formula 1, and now see Kimi come through and to be able to be here with them, especially as Kimi took my seat.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd then Bono, I\u2019ve worked with for so long, so it\u2019s like sitting here with my whole family. So that\u2019s great.\u201d<\/p>\n The other two podium sitters were in full agreement, with Antonelli<\/a> calling it a \u201cspecial moment.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s incredible to be sharing the podium with George and Lewis because George came through the junior academy like me and he\u2019s part of the family,” he said. “Lewis has made history with Mercedes and obviously it\u2019s great for Mercedes.<\/p>\n