Lewis Hamilton secured seventh place in the Miami Grand Prix Sprint qualifying session on Friday evening. While this result was respectable for the seven-time world champion, it fell short of providing the boost he had hoped for. Although Hamilton’s performance was reasonable, it did little to improve the overall mood surrounding his weekend.
Hamilton’s lap time was only a few tenths slower than that of his teammate, Charles Leclerc, marking a noticeable improvement compared to his performance in Saudi Arabia. However, the real test for Ferrari will come on Saturday and Sunday, when the race results will have a greater impact. The primary frustration for Hamilton stems from Ferrari’s apparent lack of pace. Despite Leclerc’s efforts to maximize the potential of the struggling SF-25, even he could only manage a sixth-place finish, over three-tenths behind Kimi Antonelli, who surprised everyone by claiming pole position.
Hamilton had previously taken the top spot in F1’s last Sprint qualifying session in China, which led to hopes that the return of the shorter format might spark an improvement in his performance. Unfortunately, Ferrari was once again the slowest of the top four teams, which did not bode well for Hamilton’s prospects.
Hamilton’s relationship with Ferrari engineer Riccardo Adami is still in its early stages, and it hasn’t yet reached the level of the legendary bond Hamilton shared with Mercedes engineer Peter Bonnington over their twelve-year partnership. During the SQ2 session in Miami, Hamilton appeared frustrated as he sought more detailed feedback from Adami about where he was losing time compared to the front-runners. Over the radio, Hamilton asked, “Can you be clear? Just give me the times for sector 1, 2, and 3,” indicating his need for clearer information. The exasperation in his voice was evident, as he felt the communication was insufficient for him to make necessary adjustments.
The dynamic between Lewis Hamilton and Riccardo Adami, who has previously worked with drivers like Carlos Sainz and Sebastian Vettel, is still evolving. This was further highlighted at the end of SQ2 when Hamilton barely managed to reach the start/finish line in time, prompting a frustrated radio message: “You’re really confusing me at the end of the lap… you said I had five seconds left.” Despite the pressure, Hamilton managed to secure the lap he needed to stay in the competition. Throughout the weekend, he has consistently been in the top 10 during qualifying sessions, avoiding any major disasters.
Former Mercedes insider and BBC presenter Jennie Gow expressed dissatisfaction with Hamilton’s attitude during the Miami Grand Prix, particularly during his press conference appearance. According to Gow, Lewis Hamilton’s responses were short and lacking in engagement, leading to what she described as a “producer’s nightmare.” This behavior reflects Hamilton’s apparent frustration, as he has appeared downcast and disillusioned since the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Although some within the paddock still believe that Hamilton could thrive at Ferrari if he and the team find the right synergy, Hamilton himself is not as optimistic.
Despite entering the season with high hopes and excitement about his move to Ferrari, Hamilton’s expectations have not been met. He has expressed disappointment both with his own performances and with the car’s lack of speed. While he feels that he is not living up to his own standards, F1 journalist Ted Kravitz notes that Ferrari have encouraged Hamilton to remain patient and not to give up on the team just yet.
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