After a challenging qualifying session on Saturday, Lewis Hamilton bounced back in style on Sunday with a standout performance that marked his best race result yet with Ferrari.
Starting from ninth on the grid, the seven-time world champion delivered a calm and calculated opening before showcasing his brilliance in the middle stages of the 57-lap race. Ferrari opted for an alternative strategy for both Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc, holding back early before unleashing strong pace as others pitted.
Hamilton came alive mid-race, pulling off a string of bold overtakes — including impressive moves on Andrea Kimi Antonelli and reigning champion Max Verstappen — ultimately finishing fifth. His efforts earned him the Driver of the Day title with 29.6% of the vote, ahead of Oscar Piastri (14.1%), Leclerc (7.8%), Lando Norris (6.7%), and Pierre Gasly (6.5%).
Reflecting on his fourth outing with the Scuderia, Hamilton said he felt a dramatic improvement from qualifying to race day.
“It was a night and day difference,” he said. “It was a tough race — making progress wasn’t easy with how tight the field is, but I’m starting to understand what I need to look for.”
He admitted the SF25 could be a challenge at times, but praised his team’s effort and the improvements made with the car’s setup: “We went in the direction Charles had taken all weekend, and it gave me more confidence. I’m adapting my driving style to suit the car better and that’s starting to pay off.”
Hamilton also commended the pit crew and strategy team for playing a key role in his result. “The car had strong pace and I was finally able to push in a performance window I hadn’t reached before. Though the balance shifted a bit on the hard compound, I’m happy overall. Big thanks to the team – the strategy and pit stops were spot on and really made the difference.”
After a difficult outing in Japan, Hamilton says this performance has reignited his belief that he can start extracting strong one-lap pace from the SF25 in future races.
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