Hamilton Grabs Sprint Podium in Miami: “I’m So Happy With That!”
Lewis Hamilton delivered a standout performance in the Miami Grand Prix sprint race, finishing third and celebrating what he described as one of the most satisfying results of a difficult season so far.
“I’m so happy with that!” Hamilton said after the race. “It’s been a tough year so far, but to have… I never thought it was going to rain in Miami. It was the first time that we’ve all been on track in the wet here, and what a race it provided us.”
The chaos began even before lights out, as heavy rain hit the Miami International Autodrome. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc crashed on his way to the grid, prompting a delay and reducing the field to 19 drivers. Following two formation laps and a red flag, the race got underway on intermediate tyres.
Hamilton admitted he struggled early in the changing conditions. “I really, really did struggle on the inters. I think everyone was struggling on them,” he said. But it was a bold strategy call that made the difference. “I made that call at the end, I was like, I’m coming in because I was going nowhere, so take the risk, take the gamble, and it paid off.”
That well-timed switch to slick tyres helped Hamilton vault into podium contention. Although the race ended under the safety car due to Fernando Alonso’s crash, the Ferrari driver had done enough to claim third place behind the McLaren duo.
Oscar Piastri led much of the race after overtaking polesitter Kimi Antonelli on lap one, but a safety car during the final laps allowed Lando Norris to snatch victory. Despite the McLaren dominance, Hamilton held his ground and proved once again why he remains a master of mixed conditions.
“I wish we had another couple of laps to give these guys a bit of a fight,” Hamilton added. “But big congrats to McLaren as always.”
The result offers a bright spot in what has otherwise been a challenging season for the seven-time world champion, and may signal momentum as Ferrari looks to recover ground in the championship.
