From Triumph to Turmoil: Hamilton’s Mixed Fortunes in Miami Mark Ferrari Struggles
Lewis Hamilton’s weekend in Miami painted a familiar picture of his tumultuous start to life in red. Just hours after celebrating a podium finish in the Sprint, the seven-time world champion was brought back down to earth with a frustrating early exit in qualifying — a reflection of the inconsistency that continues to plague Ferrari’s 2025 campaign.
After his much-publicized move from Mercedes to Ferrari, Hamilton appeared to ignite a spark by winning the Sprint race in China earlier this season. But that momentum quickly vanished when he was disqualified from the Grand Prix the next day due to a technical infraction. Since then, the Briton has been battling for answers, with no finish higher than fifth and teammate Charles Leclerc regularly having the upper hand.
In Miami, Saturday began on a high. The unpredictable Sprint conditions played into Hamilton’s hands, and a perfectly timed switch from intermediate to slick tyres vaulted him from sixth to third place. It was a moment of much-needed relief.
“Oh man, I’m so happy with that,” Hamilton told fans after the race. “It’s been a tough year so far.”
The move, however, was less about pure pace and more about racing instinct. “I was really struggling on the intermediates,” Hamilton explained. “I saw the dry line and knew we had to take a chance. I wish we did it a lap earlier, but I’m glad we made the call.”
Leclerc’s crash en route to the grid left Ferrari with only one car to assess in the Sprint — adding to the growing list of what-ifs for the team.
Any optimism quickly faded in qualifying. Hamilton barely scraped through Q1, using an extra set of soft tyres after a costly lock-up at Turn 17. Another mistake at the same corner in Q2 saw him eliminated, leaving him 12th on the grid and visibly frustrated.
“We’re struggling big time,” -Hamilton . “There’s no consistency. One session we look okay, the next we’re nowhere. It’s the brakes, the balance, everything.”
Despite his experience and resilience, Hamilton was candid about the uphill climb ahead. “We’re only six races in, but we’re not where we need to be. Getting into Q3 feels like an achievement, which is not where Ferrari should be.”
Looking ahead, Hamilton vowed to continue fighting: “I’ll be back at the factory next week. We’ll keep pushing. That’s all we can do.”
