Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time World Champion, expressed his frustration after a challenging Qualifying session for the Chinese Grand Prix, describing his Ferrari as being "on a knife edge." Despite his recent success, securing pole position and victory in the Sprint, Hamilton found himself only managing to qualify fifth.

The Shanghai weekend began in spectacular fashion for the British driver, who showcased his speed by dominating the Sprint Qualifying on Friday evening. On Saturday, he extended that success with a confident victory in the 100-kilometre Sprint race, leaving fans hopeful for a strong performance in the main event.

However, as the full Qualifying session progressed, the pace of Hamilton and the Ferrari team seemed to drop significantly. He attributed this dip in performance to the set-up adjustments made between the Sprint and Qualifying sessions. “We started really optimistic, but then we made just a couple of small changes to the car, and it really put the car on a knife edge,” Hamilton told Sky Sports F1. He noted that changing wind conditions also contributed to the car’s unpredictable behavior, making it difficult to maintain stable lap times.

Hamilton emphasized the importance of a balanced car. "You want a car that has a similar balance everywhere,” he explained. He lamented the erratic handling that left him unable to charge through corners confidently. "When it’s unpredictable, then you’ve got no hope," he added, a stark reminder of the challenges that a driver faces on the track.

His teammate, Charles Leclerc, was not far behind, securing sixth place. Leclerc acknowledged the difficulties of the weekend, admitting that he felt overshadowed by Hamilton’s performance yet believed he maximized the capabilities of his car. "Being in front of Lewis or being behind doesn’t really matter. As a team, I think we maximized the potential of the car, but we need to figure out why we lost performance from the Sprint," he stated.

As the teams prepare for race day, all eyes will be on how both Hamilton and Leclerc will navigate the unpredictable nature of their Ferrari. Can they regroup and reclaim their competitive edge? The anticipation is palpable as fans await the outcome of what promises to be an exhilarating race at the Shanghai Circuit. Stay tuned for what unfolds!