Hamilton Turns Sunday Around After 'Disastrous' Qualifying Session at Imola

Lewis Hamilton overcame a disappointing qualifying session to finish fourth at the Imola Grand Prix, beating teammate Charles Leclerc. Read about his thrilling recovery and post-race insights.

Lewis Hamilton beamed with joy after turning his disastrous qualifying session into a triumphant Sunday at the Imola Grand Prix. His first Formula One race in Italy for Ferrari was a redemption story, as he skillfully navigated his way from 12th place to an impressive 4th place finish.

The Italian media had a field day branding Ferrari's qualifying performance, where Charles Leclerc finished 11th and Hamilton 12th, as a 'disaster'. However, the fans' cheers echoed through the Imola circuit a day later, thanks to Hamilton's remarkable recovery. This impressive turnaround showcased Hamilton's determination and Ferrari's potential, leaving a positive impression on the Italian fans.

Hamilton finished the Imola Grand Prix in a season-best fourth place, while Leclerc ended up sixth, still a significant improvement from their qualifying positions.

“It was the first time since joining Ferrari from Mercedes in January that Hamilton beat his teammate, apart from the sprint race win in Shanghai,” Hamilton noted. “China was really great, but I'd say this one was better,” he told reporters. ”I've always loved racing from further back and coming through – that's how I started my career.”

Lewis Hamilton expressed his satisfaction with the outcome, saying, “It's such a better feeling than starting first and finishing first. Definitely an absolutely mega race and so many positives to take from it...there's tonnes of positives to take from today.”

Hamilton praised Ferrari's strategy, noting it was a key factor in his success. He also mentioned that it was the first time he felt aligned with the car since China, highlighting a positive development for the team.

“I think we made a bit of an improvement in our performance for the race. We've just got to unlock the potential in qualifying,” he added.

“If we had qualified better, we would have been fighting for a podium which is something we didn't think would be possible.”

At the start, Hamilton was overtaken by Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli, who had taken Hamilton's vacated seat at Mercedes. However, Hamilton patiently waited on hard tires before switching to mediums, which revitalized his car's performance.

Hamilton noted the unique experience of racing for Ferrari in Italy, contrasting it with his familiarity of racing in front of British fans at Silverstone. The event saw a significant turnout, with an attendance of 242,000 over the weekend, marking an increase from 200,000 last year.

Immense pride and positivity from @LewisHamilton 💪#F1 #ImolaGP @ScuderiaFerrari pic.twitter.com/ZhILXIGcsM

— Formula 1 (@F1) May 18, 2025

The Imola circuit was packed with enthusiastic fans, predominantly clad in red, waving flags and banners, and crowding the catch fences.

“It's been incredible. What an amazing experience,” Hamilton said, reflecting on the electric atmosphere. As a driver for Ferrari, he was now on the other side of the experience, having previously been the one the crowd hoped to see beaten.

During the parade lap, Hamilton captured the vibrant scene on film, taking in the memorial to Ayrton Senna, who tragically passed away at Imola in 1994, and the ocean of red-clad fans.

Hamilton reflected on how the experience brought back memories of his youth, watching Ferrari's Michael Schumacher connect with the tifosi. He recalled sitting at home with a bacon sandwich, feeling inspired by the warmth and enthusiasm of the Italian fans towards Schumacher.

”It was quite an incredible experience to think that I'm now here in one of the two Ferraris and having that connection with such a passionate group of people. It's unbelievable,” he said.

“You can just see how passionate people are for Ferrari. I guess it doesn't matter who's in it, they just love to see the red cars. The red car comes and they get so excited: Red, red! It's amazing to see, it's really cool.”