Lewis Hamilton Reveals True Grit in Miami as Ferrari Struggles Proceed
Lewis Hamilton skilled one more rollercoaster weekend as a Ferrari driver throughout the Miami Grand Prix, navigating each the strategic highs and ongoing frustrations which have marked his debut season with the Scuderia.
The seven-time world champion was set to line up straight behind teammate Charles Leclerc for the Dash Race, however Ferrari’s hopes of a double factors end have been instantly dashed. As Leclerc headed to the grid on intermediate tyres, his SF-25 aquaplaned on the rain-slicked floor and crashed into the obstacles, ending his Dash involvement earlier than it started.
That left Hamilton because the staff’s sole contender for Saturday factors—and he delivered. Making a well timed change to slick tyres whereas others hesitated, Lewis Hamilton capitalised on a chaotic sequence of occasions: Max Verstappen and Andrea Kimi Antonelli collided exiting the pit lane, and George Russell unexpectedly lacked tempo in comparison with his Mercedes teammate. These elements helped Hamilton safe his second Dash podium of the 2025 season, highlighting his ongoing sharpness and race consciousness.
Nevertheless, Lewis Hamilton’s fortunes took a flip in Grand Prix qualifying. He’ll begin Sunday’s race from twelfth on the grid after being eradicated in Q2 by the narrowest of margins. Whereas visibly annoyed with a essential tyre technique name made by the Maranello staff, the Briton nonetheless managed to impress observers—particularly 1996 world champion Damon Hill.
The previous Components 1 driver, talking on BBC Sport in the course of the Miami qualifying session, commented on Lewis Hamilton’s decisive remaining lap in Q1. In response to Damon Hill, Lewis Hamilton had positioned immense strain on himself after locking up in the identical braking zone earlier within the session. But, when confronted with the identical high-risk nook, the 40-year-old braked confidently and obtained the lap proper when it mattered most. Hill described the second as quintessentially “the mark of a champion,” underscoring Hamilton’s means to rebound below strain.
Regardless of the standout lap in Q1, Hamilton couldn’t replicate the identical efficiency in Q2. He ended the session just below a tenth of a second behind Leclerc—an agonisingly small margin that stored him from advancing to the ultimate qualifying phase. Esteban Ocon’s Haas made it by, whereas Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar was narrowly edged out, splitting the 2 Ferrari drivers and highlighting the more and more aggressive midfield.
Lewis Hamilton’s robust exhibiting within the Dash Race did permit him to succeed in a rare milestone. Along with his third-place end, he grew to become the one Components 1 driver in historical past to register top-four finishes in any respect 38 circuits he has raced at. However the veteran is aware of that Dash outcomes don’t carry the identical weight as Sunday performances, and Ferrari’s lack of ability to translate qualifying tempo into Grand Prix consistency stays a severe concern.
The core of the issue seems to lie with Ferrari’s new ground improve. The staff has reportedly been pressured to boost the experience peak of the SF-25 attributable to gasoline load sensitivity, undermining their aerodynamic efficiency over a full race distance. It’s a problem that no quantity of driver brilliance can masks.
Nonetheless, the Briton’s willpower has not gone unnoticed. Earlier within the day, Max Verstappen publicly acknowledged Hamilton’s work ethic and professionalism, calling it one of many defining traits of a world champion. Their mutual respect—as soon as strained by on-track rivalry—now displays a shared appreciation for one another’s ability and dedication.
And whereas the seven-time Components 1 world champion’s present equipment lacks the race-winning functionality of the dominant McLaren or Pink Bull, his grit and veteran poise proceed to shine. It’s clear that he stays a driver able to delivering extraordinary moments, even when his equipment isn’t but as much as the identical commonplace.
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