It is pointless to deny it: Ferrari’s expectations for the Las Vegas Grand Prix were very high. But that’s how it works in Formula 1: any unoptimized detail disrupts the race weekend. Despite a less-than-stellar qualifying session, ambitions weren’t diminished, even though it was clear that the cold temperatures had seemingly reignited the Mercedes W15. Without the dual error by Lewis Hamilton in Q3, the front row would have been monopolized by the silver arrows, adorned in black. Even Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur confirmed that he wouldn’t have settled for a second-place finish.
This attests to the fact that the men at Maranello were confident they could contend for victory during the race. Instead, the three-pointed star dominated from start to finish, demonstrating its ability to replicate its qualifying performance over the 300 kilometer race distance. The extent of the W15’s superiority was highlighted by Lewis Hamilton’s stunning comeback, effortlessly climbing from tenth position after a nightmare qualifying session, reminiscent of his dominance during Toto Wolff’s era.
Lewis Hamilton’s dual error in Q3 fueled doubts about the declining performances of the seven-time Formula 1 world champion. On Sunday night (Sunday morning in Europe), Sir Lewis silenced skeptics and those who had already labeled him as “washed up.” The British driver remains physically, mentally, and ambitiously intact. The pace he unleashed in the final stint was a clear message: with a competitive car, “hammer time” is not just a relic of the brightest phase of his extraordinary career.
The man who shattered all Formula 1 records comes alive when the car matches the champion’s level, allowing him to fight for the top positions. After all, it’s much easier for an observer to appreciate the performances of a driver battling for the lead rather than praising the efforts of a purebred driver desperately fighting in the midfield. In this sense, Lewis Hamilton deserves credit for fighting with dignity, even when it meant battling for a single point, as recently seen at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The Scuderia leaves Nevada with many regrets and internal tensions, which risk hindering their pursuit of the constructors’ title. The only positive aspect of the weekend in the gambling city was the performance of the seven-time world champion, inspiring hope for 2025. For too long, Hamilton’s results fueled the belief that his partnership with the historic Modenese team was merely a massive marketing operation, lucrative for both sides regardless of sporting outcomes.
Instead, Lewis Hamilton has shown he’s still hungry and didn’t join the red team solely to bolster his business interests. The eighth Formula 1 world title remains his obsession, and achieving it with the legendary Italian car would be a fitting conclusion to a perfect career, which began in 2007, when as a rookie, he nearly won his first championship. After twelve seasons with Mercedes, it was time for a change. Who wouldn’t have made such a decision, especially when your team no longer offered the chance to win races and fight for an F1 world championship?
The English champion has long understood that only through new motivations could his Formula 1 career have real meaning. And what greater challenge could there be than striving to bring Ferrari back to the top of the world? As always, Lewis Hamilton has not chosen the “comfort zone,” because facing Charles Leclerc at the peak of his competitive maturity will clearly not be an easy task. We are talking about a driver who has never sought shortcuts and has faced champions like Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button, and Nico Rosberg on the other side of the garage.
The penultimate round of the 2024 Formula 1 season crowned Max Verstappen once again, securing his fourth consecutive world title. But it also showed that Lewis Hamilton, with the right car and motivations, can compete for any goal, as he has always done without any problem. Deep down, Frederic Vasseur knows that the skirmishes between the Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz might pale in comparison to the future rivalry between Lewis and Charles. However, he is also well aware that with a competitive base for the 2025 Formula 1 campaign, the Briton is ready to fight for victory in every single race of the championship.
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