Lewis Hamilton has no regrets over Ferrari switch despite Mercedes improvement

Lewis Hamilton insisted he has no regrets over his decision to leave Mercedes for Ferrari after claiming his first podium of the season at Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix.

Following a poor start to his farewell campaign with the Silver Arrows, the 39-year-old enjoyed his finest weekend of the year to date with a composed drive in Barcelona.

Hamilton’s third-placed finish, which included an impressive overtake on Carlos Sainz – the man he is replacing at Ferrari next year – marked back-to-back podiums for his Mercedes team after George Russell finished third in Canada earlier this month.

Although Ferrari have taken two victories this season, Mercedes – enjoying a resurgence following a string of successful upgrades – have passed the Italian team in the pecking order. Russell finished one place behind Hamilton on Sunday, with Charles Leclerc and Sainz fifth and sixth respectively for Ferrari.

But when asked if he is having second thoughts about his blockbuster switch to the Scuderia, Hamilton said: “No, not at all.

“I love Mercedes. I have been with Mercedes since I was 13 and I will always be a fan and a supporter of them.

“My job right now is to work as hard as I can with the crew that I have to try and move and develop the car in the right direction.

“Whatever course and trajectory the team is on for next year, there are things I hopefully will have been a part of and I am proud of that.

“My job next year will be to start with the other team, and they are doing a great job. They have had a difficult couple of races but let’s not forget they had a race win in Monaco (last month).

“I don’t know what is wrong with their car and why they are in the position they are in. But it doesn’t make me second-guess my decision at all.”

Starting third, a sluggish getaway saw Hamilton drop behind team-mate Russell, and he also lost out to Sainz at the opening round of pit-stops.

But the seven-time world champion muscled his way ahead of Sainz before clearing Russell on lap 52 of 66 to take the final spot on the podium, albeit 17.7 seconds behind winner Max Verstappen.

“It is a big boost to finally get a good result,” added Hamilton after scoring his first top-three finish since the Mexican Grand Prix, 236 days ago.

“It has been a minute since I was up here! The team has done an amazing job, working so hard with extra long hours to bring components to the car and we are slowly getting closer.

“Last year we were fast here, so you have to take this result with a pinch of salt, but in the past two races we have also been competitive. We still have a couple of tenths to find. We have to have all hands on deck and keep pushing.”