Lewis Hamilton attributed his unexpected elimination in Q2 at the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix to Ferrari’s tire strategy, particularly the shortage of medium tires. Speaking after the session, the seven-time champion indicated the team’s setup decisions and tire choices hindered his ability to secure a better qualifying position. The British driver, despite running comfortably inside the top 10 during practice and early qualifying, failed to improve on his final lap in Q2 and ended up outside the top 10.
The qualifying session itself was highly unpredictable, lasting over two hours and interrupted by six red flags due to tricky wind conditions and dropping track temperatures, factors that caused difficulties for many drivers. However, Hamilton did not blame the erratic weather, instead focusing on the challenge caused by limited medium tire sets. He revealed that having only two sets of medium tires left restricted his options at a critical moment.
Impact of Tire Allocation and Setup Choices on Hamilton’s Performance
Hamilton explained that during free practice 2, where he topped the timing sheets, the car felt stronger compared to qualifying. However, when it came to the crucial Q2 session, the team prioritized a setup and tire direction he found less effective. Although he was confident with his pace and did not make driving errors, the limited tire situation created a strategic dilemma. Ferrari intended to equip him with medium tires for Q3, but failing to reach the top 10 rendered this plan moot.
When asked about whether wind sensitivity affected his performance, Hamilton replied:
“No. One of the things that kind of factored into it was a bit of a direction that the team was pushing for us to go, something with some of the setup. That didn’t feel as good as P2. But I felt like we made a lot of progress and we were looking really strong. I didn’t make any mistakes. It’s just then, because I was on and we were on the back foot with only two mediums, we were thinking of running, having two mediums in Q3. You’ve got to get to Q3 first, so ultimately just not the best execution. So, definitely disappointed with lots of positives to take.”
This statement reflects Hamilton’s frustration regarding the strategic decisions and his determination to find learning points amid the setback.
Rationale Behind Ferrari’s Medium Tire Strategy in Baku
Hamilton agreed that Ferrari’s decision to focus on the medium tire during qualifying was sensible given the conditions. He noted that the medium compound held roughly a three-tenths of a second advantage over the softer tire, making it the faster choice for the session. The team diverged their tire strategies between Hamilton and his teammate Charles Leclerc, with Leclerc switching to soft tires in the later part of qualifying.
Explaining the team’s approach, Hamilton said:
“The medium tire was just much quicker.”
On why the decision leaned towards running mediums when Hamilton had previously performed better on softs, he added:
“Basically, the team chose to run me on a medium in Q2 and Charles was meant to run it in the second run at Q2. They opted because everyone else wasn’t out on them. I opted to keep it and then all the top ten basically had three mediums. We knew that the mediums were quicker by let’s say three tenths or something like that. And we should have brought it in on the Q2, really.”
From Hamilton’s perspective, the tire call was justified by the wider trend, though execution and timing did not align perfectly to his advantage in the session.
Baku Grid Positions and Prospects for Race Day
Following qualifying, Hamilton will start the Azerbaijan GP in 12th position, with teammate Charles Leclerc two places ahead in 10th, despite Leclerc’s session being cut short by a wall impact at Turn 15, which caused a red flag. Both Ferrari drivers will begin outside the usual top five, a rare outcome given the team’s typical qualifying strength.
The nature of the Baku circuit—with variable weather, tire wear concerns, and a history of safety cars—means that Sunday’s race could present strategic opportunities. Ferrari remains optimistic about the possibility of making up ground through tactical decisions during the Grand Prix.
Strategic Implications of Tire and Setup Choices at Baku
Hamilton’s qualifying experience underlines the complex balance teams must strike between tire strategy and car setup in Formula 1, particularly in volatile conditions like those seen in Baku. The scarcity of medium tires limited flexibility and forced Ferrari into a calculated risk that did not pay off as hoped for Hamilton. This incident highlights how tire management and allocation can play a decisive role in race weekend outcomes.
The pressure will now be on Ferrari and Hamilton to adapt their strategy for the race itself, potentially leveraging the unpredictable Baku environment to recover positions. Hamilton, facing this challenge, will aim to translate his track pace, evident during practice, into strong race performance despite the disappointing qualifying.
