Lewis Hamilton‘s Saturday at the Miami Grand Prix showcased a stark contrast in his early Ferrari career, blending a moment of triumph with a subsequent struggle. After a brilliantly timed switch to slick tyres during the Sprint race on the drying track, Hamilton surged from a precarious sixth position to secure third place behind the McLarens. However, the joy of this impressive recovery was quickly overshadowed by a disappointing qualifying session that left the seven-time world champion eliminated in Q2 and starting Sunday’s race from 12th on the grid.
Coming off a blockbuster move to Ferrari after 12 successful years at Mercedes, Hamilton initially appeared to hit the ground running by winning the Sprint and taking pole position in Shanghai at the second round of the season. Unfortunately, his momentum was stalled after a technical breach led to disqualification from the Shanghai main race. Since then, he has struggled to regain top form, managing only a seventh-place best in qualifying and a fifth-place best in races, while consistently being outpaced by his teammate Charles Leclerc.
At Miami, Hamilton’s tactical call to pit early from intermediates to slick tyres on the drying circuit during the Sprint race proved pivotal. This strategy move allowed him to leapfrog competitors and salvage significant positions, demonstrating his racecraft and experience. Yet, despite the positive outcome, the seven-time champion remained pragmatic about the effort, acknowledging the struggle he faced earlier.
Oh man, I’m so happy with that,
Hamilton said in his immediate post-Sprint interview, addressing the crowd with evident relief.
You know, it’s been a tough year so far.
His elation stemmed from the rare upturn amid what has been a frustrating period for the British driver, whose pace has often lagged behind expectations.
In a candid discussion with Sky Sports F1, Hamilton reflected on the strategy behind his surge.
It was my call [to pit]. But it was coming from the fact I was struggling so much on the intermediates,
he explained.
I was losing pace and I couldn’t keep up with the guys ahead. The tyres had grained front and rear and I was just a passenger at this point.
He continued,
I was seeing the dry line, and I thought ‘we have to do something otherwise I will lose more places.’ I wish I did it a lap before but happy I made it. The car felt great after that and to get third from seventh is good work.
This admission revealed both the challenges Hamilton faced with tyre management and his ability to adapt quickly under pressure.
Hamilton’s teammate Charles Leclerc, who might have served as a direct comparison, retired early from the Sprint after crashing when heavy rain caught him off guard. Leclerc’s unfortunate exit contributed to an unusual race dynamic, leaving Ferrari’s real progress difficult to assess ahead of qualifying.
However, the bleak reality for Ferrari and Hamilton came sharply into focus during qualifying. Struggling to make it out of Q1, Hamilton had to burn through an extra set of soft tyres following a major lock-up that ruined his initial run. His resilience was tested further in Q2, where a second poor run combined with another lock-up at Turn 17 resulted in elimination, relegating him to a humiliating 12th place start.
Despite the setback, Hamilton maintained a determined outlook, telling Sky Sports F1,
We will keep trying. We are only six races in but we are struggling big time.
His frustration was clear as he outlined the team’s battle to find consistency, with recurring issues on brakes and overall instability hampering their performance.
We are trying our hardest not to make big set-up changes but no matter what we do it’s so inconsistent every time we go out,
Hamilton said somberly.
We have problems with brakes, problems with this instability that we are struggling with and we are generally not quick enough. Just to get through to Q3 is tough for us.
He further expressed the daunting challenge ahead, emphasizing how difficult it is to recover points when starting from the back.
Tomorrow will be hard work but we will try again. It’s the same thing for me, I’m used to it but I will keep trying. And I will be back at the factory next week and just keep going.
In contrast, Charles Leclerc’s recent form had hinted at improvement, with consecutive fourth-place finishes in Japan and Bahrain culminating in Ferrari’s first podium of the season in Saudi Arabia. However, the Monegasque driver’s mood was grim in Miami after qualifying eighth and acknowledging that the car felt worse than ever before.
There was something strange in qualifying, something off. I was completely out of the window of the car for some reason,
Leclerc revealed.
I started Q1 and we had to change the car a lot to get to where I wanted in Q3, which is very unusual but it never felt good and the performance of the car has been very bad.
Leclerc’s frustration was palpable as he explained the sharp drop in confidence and pace.
The feeling is not great. But it’s the way it is. It’s just frustrating because when you do your best and the best is P8, with a Ferrari it hurts and the two Williams in front of us, I didn’t do any mistakes… we are just not fast enough.
Asked if this represented his worst experience of the season, Leclerc responded affirmatively, pointing to the unique challenges of the Miami circuit.
Yes. It’s also a track that’s different than other tracks. There’s a lot of low speed corners and at the moment we are paying the price in those corners.
With qualifying woes deepening for Ferrari, the prospects for Sunday’s race grow increasingly grim. While unpredictable weather offers a slight chance for chaos and potential gains, it seems unlikely to counterbalance the car’s fundamental shortcomings.
Ferrari now faces intense pressure as the team looks ahead to Imola, the first of their two home races this season, taking place in just two weeks. After a dismal start to 2025, the Italian outfit must urgently address their inconsistencies if they are to salvage their title challenge and restore confidence within the team.
