Lewis Hamilton experienced a dramatic shift in fortunes over the Imola Grand Prix weekend. Saturday was challenging, with both Hamilton and his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc surprisingly failing to reach the final qualifying session, starting 11th and 12th respectively. This was a significant disappointment, particularly at their home race just a short distance from the Maranello factory. Hamilton himself admitted feeling `devastated` after qualifying.
However, Sunday`s race brought a stark contrast, at least for Hamilton. A strategic masterclass from the Ferrari pit wall, combined with an alternate tire strategy and favorable timing of a late safety car period, allowed him to surge through the field. Hamilton ultimately finished fourth, a result he considered even more satisfying than his earlier sprint race victory in China.
“China was great, but this one is better,” Hamilton commented after the race, expressing his enjoyment of fighting from behind. He highlighted the team`s “fantastic” strategy calls and a renewed sense of “synergy” with the car`s setup on Sunday, suggesting performance had improved but was masked by the poor qualifying result. He felt a podium could have been within reach if qualifying had gone better.
Despite Hamilton`s positive takeaway, the weekend underscored fundamental issues for Ferrari, which were more apparent through Charles Leclerc`s experience. The car didn`t demonstrate the outright pace needed to contend for a podium purely on merit. Leclerc`s race was also compromised by the safety car timing; his decision not to pit left him vulnerable towards the end.
Leclerc, often the public face of Ferrari`s recent struggles, offered a more subdued reflection on the weekend. He spoke of the need to race “with the heart” and “put the elbows out” when starting further down the grid, a situation he found unacceptable. He noted the car`s inconsistent performance, specifically its tendency to come alive in the race but lack pace beforehand, an issue the team has yet to fully understand.
The 2025 season has so far fallen short of Ferrari`s aspirations. After a strong finish to the previous year and the high-profile arrival of Hamilton, the team had hoped to be genuine championship contenders. Instead, they seem locked in a battle to salvage results while trying to rediscover the “sweet spot” for the car`s setup, particularly concerning tire warm-up and qualifying pace, which they had seemingly unlocked in the latter half of last season. Team principal Frédéric Vasseur acknowledged the team`s frustration with their recent qualifying performance.
Looking ahead, the Monaco Grand Prix poses a significant test. The narrow street circuit heavily emphasizes qualifying performance. Leclerc anticipates a “very difficult weekend” there, believing the track will expose the car`s weaknesses, though he retains a slim hope for a surprise result.
