Hamilton Celebrates an Epic Weekend with Ferrari at Imola
Lewis Hamilton experienced a weekend full of emotions in his first Formula 1 race in Italy with Ferrari, going from the disappointment of Saturday to the euphoria of Sunday.
After a qualifying session that turned out to be the worst for Ferrari in seven races, with Charles Leclerc in eleventh position and Hamilton in twelfth, the team recovered with a notable performance in Imola.
Hamilton achieved an impressive fourth place, his best result of the season, while Leclerc finished sixth. This result represented a significant improvement compared to his starting position.
It was the first time since he joined Ferrari in January, coming from Mercedes, that Hamilton, seven-time world champion, outperformed his teammate in a race, apart from the sprint race in Shanghai.
China was really great, but I would say this one was better. I’ve always loved fighting from behind and coming back. That’s how I started as a kid.
Lewis Hamilton
Hamilton expressed his satisfaction with Ferrari’s strategy, feeling a special connection with the car since China.
The British driver acknowledged that the team made significant performance improvements for the race, although he highlighted the need to optimize qualifying.
Hamilton lost position at the start to the Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli, but he knew how to wait for the right moment on the hard tires before switching to the mediums, where the car showed its true potential.
The experience of competing in Italy for Ferrari was something unique for Hamilton.
The organizers estimated the attendance at 242,000 people over the weekend, a significant increase compared to the previous year. The fans, dressed in red, flooded the circuit, showing their unconditional support.
Hamilton described the experience as incredible and acknowledged the fans’ passion for Ferrari.
During the formation lap, Hamilton filmed the scene, paying tribute to Ayrton Senna and feeling the energy of the fans.
Hamilton remembered his youth, watching Michael Schumacher connect with Ferrari fans and feeling their enthusiasm.
Hamilton concluded by highlighting the incredible experience of being in one of the two Ferraris and connecting with such a passionate group of people.
