Lewis Hamilton bites back at critics 'talking s***' about his shock move to Ferrari... as he plays down Mercedes' expectations ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton has hit out at those ‘talking s***’ about his decision to ditch Mercedes and join Ferrari from the start of next season.

The 39-year-old shocked the sport on the eve of the 2024 season by announcing his bombshell departure from the team he has won all but one of his seven world titles with.

Results and performances so far this season suggest Hamilton’s decision was a wise one.

While Ferrari look to be improving each week, cementing their place as Red Bull's closest, albeit distant, title challengers, there seems to be no end in sight for Mercedes' struggles following the team's worst ever start to a season.

Heading into this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix, Hamilton clearly has no doubts in his mind over the switch.

‘I don’t feel like I need my decision vindicating. I know what is right for me and that hasn’t changed from the moment I made the decision,’ said Hamilton, who sits ninth in the drivers standings on just 10 points.

‘There’s not been a moment that I’ve questioned it and I’m not swayed by other people’s comments. Even today, there’s people continuing to talk s*** and will continue on for the rest of the year I’ll have to just do what I do.

‘Only you can know what’s right for you and this will be an exciting time for me.’

When pressed on what he meant by people ‘talking s***’, Hamilton said: ‘Just read what’s out there.’

It is thought Hamilton's comments may refer to his 14-word exchange with print journalists following the Japanese Grand Prix where the Brit was asked whether he was jealous of Ferrari's strong start to the season.

Hamilton will be 40 by the time he pulls on the famous red of Ferrari next season. But he won’t be the oldest on the grid, with that title belonging to Fernando Alonso, as things stand.

The Spaniard, a two-time world champion and former team-mate of Hamilton, penned a new multi-year contract with Aston Martin this week, which will see him race until he is at least 45.

‘I never thought I’d be racing into my forties. I’m pretty sure I said I wouldn’t race into my forties,’ joked Hamilton.

‘I think it’s such a crazy trick, life. I don’t feel like I’m nearing 40 years old, I feel like I’m pretty young still.

‘It’s a real positive because it means I’m not the oldest driver here... that’s the best part! But also Fernando is one of the best drivers we’ve had in the sport so for him to continue to be here and continue to have the output that he’s had just shows what’s possible.

'It just shows the new era of athletes and what the human body can do and continue to do if you nurture it.

‘I’m going to be racing for quite some time still so it’s definitely good he’s still around and keeps going on for a bit longer.’

For now, Hamilton's attention remains solely on salvaging some positives from his final season with Mercedes.

There are no upgrades to the car in which Hamilton and team-mate George Russell limped to finishes of ninth and seventh-place respectively two weeks ago at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Those results left Mercedes fourth in the constructors championship, already 107 points behind the mighty pacesetters Red Bull.

And while there has been some optimism amongst drivers that the first Sprint Race weekend of the season at a circuit hosting a race for the first time in five years could spring some surprises, Hamilton seemed less hopeful.

‘Nothing has changed with our car so it will be the same car this weekend but we understand it a little bit more,’ he explained.

‘(In Japan) we did make improvements so bringing some of those into this weekend on top of some new direction again. I think if we go back we would have done things differently, that’s the benefit of hindsight and experience.

‘So we’re trying to bring that here this weekend and implement some of those changes that we would have perhaps done in Suzuka and hopefully that can find us a bit of performance.’