Lewis Hamilton skilled one other irritating day on the Miami Grand Prix, dealing with difficulties all through the weekend regardless of displaying promise through the Dash Race.
Beginning in seventh for the Dash Race, Hamilton managed to safe his second podium end on this format in 2025. He made a daring strategic transfer by switching from intermediate to slick tyres sooner than a lot of his rivals, a choice that allowed him to climb the standings. Nonetheless, the selection was additionally considerably compelled, as Hamilton was combating the intermediates and was below important stress from Williams driver Alex Albon.
Sunday’s Grand Prix qualifying happened in dry circumstances, however Hamilton’s session ended early. The seven-time world champion was eradicated in Q2, narrowly lacking out on a spot within the prime 10 shootout. In the meantime, his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc managed to make it by, even after a crash earlier than the beginning of the Dash Race.
Regardless of Max Verstappen expressing admiration for Lewis Hamilton’s efficiency forward of the weekend, the 40-year-old didn’t share comparable sentiments in direction of Ferrari’s efforts throughout qualifying. A key technique name backfired and contributed to his early exit.
Hamilton expressed frustration with Ferrari’s determination to not use a brand new set of soppy tyres throughout qualifying. Throughout a post-race interview with Sky Sports activities F1 (Could 3, 2025), he was requested if he had saved a recent set of soppy tyres for Q3 and if he had requested to make use of them in Q2. Hamilton replied, stating that it “didn’t make sense” to not use two new units, particularly when struggling for tempo. He steered that this was one thing Ferrari would want to evaluate and tackle within the debrief.
World champion Jenson Button, reflecting on Hamilton’s feedback, identified that Ferrari seemingly didn’t anticipate Lewis Hamilton being eradicated at that stage. He famous that Ferrari usually expects to achieve Q3, and whereas Leclerc did a outstanding job to make the highest 10, he nonetheless discovered himself behind two Williams drivers. The previous Method 1 driver highlighted that the weekend hadn’t been straightforward for Ferrari, including that the steadiness of efficiency in F1 typically fluctuates from race to race.
Danica Patrick additional emphasised that the Miami monitor is notoriously tough for overtaking. She famous that, except a driver has important straight-line velocity, their qualifying place is essential. Given Lewis Hamilton’s struggles, she expressed that Ferrari ought to have taken each alternative to enhance his efficiency, significantly when he was already dealing with challenges.
Hamilton’s third-place end within the Dash Race was a spotlight of the weekend, however his present place within the driver standings stays precarious. He now sits in seventh place within the championship. Except Ferrari can rapidly resolve their ongoing design points, it seems unlikely that Hamilton will have the ability to compete for an eighth title in 2025.
Regardless of the setbacks, Lewis Hamilton made up invaluable factors on Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who set the report for the youngest pole sitter in F1 historical past throughout Dash qualifying. Although Antonelli’s report could also be considerably much less important given the Dash format, it was nonetheless a formidable feat for the 18-year-old, who will begin forward of George Russell in Sunday’s race.
The Briton’s third-place end within the Dash Race additionally marked a historic achievement. With this end result, Hamilton has now been categorised within the prime 4 positions at each one of many 38 circuits he has raced at in Method 1. Subsequent season, with the addition of the Madrid Grand Prix to the calendar, he can have a thirty ninth monitor so as to add to his listing.
Nonetheless, with new laws anticipated for the next season, there stays important uncertainty surrounding Ferrari’s competitiveness. Regardless of their efforts to enhance this 12 months, the Maranello group’s ongoing struggles recommend that they might face additional challenges within the close to future.
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