Ted Kravitz thinks he knows the reason why Lewis Hamilton was ‘annoyed’ in the Chinese Grand Prix pen

Lewis Hamilton won the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint race on Saturday, the first major landmark of his Ferrari career. Hamilton authoritatively converted pole position to offer a glimpse of what he can achieve this season.

Hamilton’s debut in Australia wasn’t quite a disaster, but it fell a long way short of expectations. He qualified eighth, joining teammate Charles Leclerc on the front row.

The seven-time world champion briefly led during the race as Ferrari took a gamble on slick tyres during a late shower. But they stayed out too long and he slipped back towards the tail-end of the points.

Hamilton’s 10th place finish dulled the hype around his historic move to Maranello. But he re-energised it at the Chinese Grand Prix with his surprise Sprint heroics.

F1 broadcasters ‘annoyed’ Lewis Hamilton over Riccardo Adami messages

Speaking on his ‘Notebook’ for Sky Sports F1, pitlane reporter Ted Kravitz told a ‘story’ about Hamilton’s interviews before the race. He was struck by the 40-year-old’s ‘annoyed’ demeanour in the media pen on Thursday.

Initially confused, Kravitz later worked out that Hamilton was unhappy with how his Australian GP radio messages had been portrayed. He repeatedly told engineer Riccardo Adami to only give him information when requested.

He felt certain members of the media were trying to paint a false picture of a ‘bad relationship’. Martin Brundle criticised the ‘angsty’ Hamilton in his column during the week.

After the Sprint, Hamilton alluded to his added aggression this weekend. Kravitz suspects he channelled his anger into motivation.

“I’ve got to tell you a story,” he said. “When he came to the pen on Thursday, I was, as it happened, the first person who spoke to him. I could tell he was annoyed about something. I asked a fairly anodyne question about what was on his to-do list.

“It was only until later when an Austrian journalist, who was doing a feature about engineers, asked Lewis a question. Then I knew what Lewis was annoyed about.

“He was annoyed that people, and we were as guilty as anybody, had put together the radio messages between him and Riccardo Adami, and some people were interpreting that as if they have a bad relationship.

“He said after he won the Sprint race ‘I came here with a bit more aggression’. I could tell that on Thursday. He was annoyed, and he used that to motivate himself.”

Lewis Hamilton makes a mockery of critics with Chinese Grand Prix message to Riccardo Adami

Hamilton’s response to his early doubters has been emphatic. Sebastian Vettel’s lap record was beaten on Friday as he underlined his status as the king of the Shanghai International Circuit.

Zak Brown called Hamilton’s win ‘pretty special’ and admitted that the former McLaren driver was his preferred victor if neither Oscar Piastri nor Lando Norris could stand on the top step. Piastri finished just under seven seconds behind on Saturday.

The Australian then went on to take pole position for the main Grand Prix. Hamilton was only fifth, but he did outqualify teammate Charles Leclerc.

As for the Adami story, Hamilton embarrassed Ferrari’s critics with a humorous exchange after Sprint qualifying. Both were laughing as they spoke in code, indicating that their relationship is stronger than many suggested.