In this complicated start to the 2025 Formula 1 season with Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton has only been shining in the Sprint races: the British champion secured a podium in Miami by switching to dry tyres after the first part of the race on intermediates. Here’s what he said after finishing behind the two McLarens.
Starting from sixth, and benefiting from Leclerc’s error — the Monegasque didn’t take part in the Sprint after damaging his SF-25 on the lap to the grid — Hamilton had to deal with a tough opening phase. After a few laps stuck behind George Russell, the British driver lost ground to the Mercedes and had to defend from Alex Albon’s Williams.
On the intermediate tyres, Lewis Hamilton struggled heavily, complaining about how hard it was to get the car to turn. However, he made the most of the drying track by switching to slicks earlier than his direct rivals. During the race, Hamilton also praised his mechanics for the excellent pit stop.
Finding himself in fourth after the round of stops, Lewis Hamilton overtook Max Verstappen, whose car was damaged after an unsafe release. After the Sprint, Lewis Hamilton said: “I’m so happy with that! It’s been a tough year so far, but to have… I never thought it was going to rain in Miami. It was the first time that we’ve all been on track in the wet here, and what a race it provided us. I really, really did struggle on the inters. I think everyone was struggling on them. I made that call at the end, I was like, I’m coming in because I was going nowhere, so take the risk, take the gamble, and it paid off. “I wish we had another couple of laps to give these guys a bit of a fight. But big congrats to McLaren as always.” – the Ferrari driver concluded at the end of the Miami Sprint race.
