Home
Seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton delivered a rallying cry to Ferrari after their chaotic Emilia Romagna Grand Prix weekend. Following a dismal Saturday qualifying session—where Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc slumped to 11th and 12th—fans braced for disaster. But Sunday’s race flipped the script. Hamilton clawed his way to a stunning fourth-place finish, while Leclerc secured sixth, proving the Scuderia’s refusal to surrender.
Post-race, Hamilton hinted at Ferrari’s untapped potential, urging the team to sharpen one critical area. “We’ll be winning if we fix this,” he teased, sparking intrigue about the Italian squad’s next move.
Lewis Hamilton’s Formula for Ferrari
Hamilton’s post-race advice wasn’t cryptic—it was a strategic blueprint. After battling from the midfield to fourth, the British icon stressed that Ferrari’s race-day prowess is being undermined by qualifying struggles.
“If we get qualifying right and race like this, victories will follow,” he declared.
His message echoed a theme: Ferrari’s SF-25 car, which felt “great” during the Grand Prix, is held back by poor grid positions. Hamilton’s charge included jaw-dropping overtakes on Charles Leclerc and Williams’ Alex Albon in the closing laps, showcasing the car’s race-trim potential.
Engineer Riccardo Adami, who has worked with legends like Sebastian Vettel, dubbed Lewis Hamilton’s late moves “explosive,” a nod to the driver’s relentless aggression. Yet, Hamilton’s optimism is tempered by realism. Despite his best finish (fourth) since joining Ferrari, the team remains fourth in the Constructors’ standings, trailing Red Bull by 17 points.
Ferrari’s rollercoaster weekend
The Imola GP was a microcosm of Ferrari’s season—unpredictable but electrifying. After Saturday’s qualifying debacle left Hamilton “devastated,” Sunday became a redemption arc. The SF-25, sluggish over a single lap, transformed into a rocket in race conditions. Hamilton credited flawless pit stops and strategy, dedicating his result to the tifosi:
“Grazie tutti. That was for them.”
Leclerc’s sixth-place finish, while less flashy, highlighted his consistency. The Monegasque has outperformed Lewis Hamilton in the Drivers’ standings, sitting fifth with an eight-point cushion over his teammate. However, both drivers remain winless in main races this season, their lone “victories” coming in sprints—Hamilton’s China win (later stripped due to disqualification) and Charles Leclerc’s Miami podium.
Can Ferrari turn Hamilton’s vision into reality?
Hamilton’s advice is clear: unlock qualifying speed to capitalize on Ferrari’s race-day strength. The team’s current Achilles’ heel—securing top-10 grid spots—has left them playing catch-up. Yet, Imola proved that even mid-pack starts can’t stifle their fight.
For Hamilton, the Imola result is a morale booster. Now sixth in the standings, he’s leapfrogged Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli, silencing doubts about his adaptation to Ferrari.
“Let’s keep pushing,” he urged, embodying the team’s never-say-die spirit.
Ferrari’s Imola resurgence was a masterclass in resilience, but Lewis Hamilton’s pep talk underscores a larger truth: raw speed alone won’t dethrone Red Bull. By marrying Saturday precision with Sunday’s strategic brilliance, the Scuderia could turn 2025 into a season of revival. As Hamilton put it: “We’ll be winning.” The question is—when?
ADVERTISEMENT
