Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton came close to turning around a ‘devastating’ qualifying session to secure his first podium finish for the Maranello team, while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen claimed victory at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola.
The 2025 European F1 season resumed at Ferrari’s home circuit, but the Scuderia faced a challenging weekend as both Charles Leclerc and his Maranello teammate failed to progress beyond Q2, starting the race from 11th and 12th positions respectively.
A late safety car period, triggered by the retirement of Mercedes’ promising Italian driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli, gave Hamilton a crucial opportunity. Ferrari pitted the 40-year-old for a fresh set of hard tyres during the stoppage, allowing him to climb to fourth place and finish just 1.4 seconds behind Oscar Piastri.
Lewis Hamilton had described his qualifying position as ‘devastating’ after Ferrari suffered a rare double elimination in Q2. Despite fighting through traffic on race day, he still finished the Emilia Romagna GP over 14 seconds behind Verstappen, who dominated to secure the win.
Max Verstappen’s win at Imola intensified Ferrari’s regret over missing out on signing the Dutch star, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. The report suggests that Maranello’s leadership regrets not holding out for an opportunity to bring Max Verstappen into the team before signing Hamilton last year. Ferrari had given Hamilton a two-year contract in February 2025 after replacing Carlos Sainz.
The Dutchman’s performance at Imola reminded Ferrari why he is so highly regarded. Although he narrowly missed pole position by just 0.034 seconds to Oscar Piastri, he quickly seized the lead at the opening lap’s Tamburello chicane and never looked back.
After Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, Max Verstappen had hinted at a possible future switch himself, saying ‘never say never’ to joining the Scuderia.
Max Verstappen controlled the race at Imola after taking the lead and now Ferrari are left wondering what could have been if they had held out for the Dutchman instead of signing the Briton amid uncertainty over his future at Red Bull.
Rumors are swirling that the Red Bull man may make a surprise switch to McLaren for the 2026 season, as the four-time reigning world champion considers leaving the Austrian side at the end of 2025. His contract includes exit clauses allowing him to depart before 2028.
There is also speculation that Ferrari might replace Hamilton with Max Verstappen in 2027 if the Dutch driver opts to step away from Red Bull and take a sabbatical in 2026. The Dutchman’s previous comments about possibly joining Ferrari keep this idea alive.
Red Bull has reportedly set a condition that Max Verstappen must be in the top three of the F1 Drivers’ Championship by the summer break to avoid triggering an exit clause. His victory at Imola moves him 22 points behind Piastri, who sits third, and extends his lead over George Russell in fourth to 25 points.
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