Lewis Hamilton’s Saturday at the Miami Grand Prix provided an encapsulation of the start of his Ferrari career as delight at Sprint success swiftly turned to disappointment following an early qualifying exit.
Following his blockbuster switch to the Italian team after 12 years at Mercedes, Hamilton appeared to have kickstarted his Ferrari career by taking pole and winning the Sprint at the second round of the season in China in late March.
However, he was disqualified from the full-length race in Shanghai the next day due to a technical breach on his car, and in the next three rounds could only produce a best qualifying effort of seventh and a best race finish of fifth, while being comfortably outperformed by team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Early on Saturday, in Miami, the Sprint format brought the seven-time world champion respite once more as an early call to switch from intermediates to slick tyres on the drying surface saw him jump from an under-threat sixth to a third-placed finish behind the McLarens.
Highlights of the Sprint race from the Miami Grand Prix.
While the result only offered up six points, which didn’t alter his position of seventh in the Drivers’ Championship, Hamilton couldn’t hold back his joy at a rare positive moment.
“Oh man, I’m so happy with that,” Hamilton told the crowd in his immediate on-track interview after the Sprint. “You know, it’s been a tough year so far.”
Hamilton strategy call made due to extreme ‘struggle’
While Hamilton was pleased with the result, it didn’t appear to be lost on him that it had come largely because of a well-timed strategy gamble, rather than particularly strong pace.
He told Sky Sports F1: “It was my call [to pit]. But it was coming from the fact I was struggling so much on the intermediates.
“I was losing pace and I couldn’t keep up with the guys ahead. The tyres had grained front and rear and I was just a passenger at this point.
Charles Leclerc was caught in heavy rain and crashed into the wall before the Sprint started at the Miami Grand Prix.
“I was seeing the dry line, and I thought ‘we have to do something otherwise I will lose more places’.
“I wish I did it a lap before but happy I made it. The car felt great after that and to get third from seventh is good work.”
On this occasion Hamilton didn’t have the measuring stick of his team-mate Leclerc, who crashed out on his lap from the pit lane to the grid as heavy rain caught him by surprise.
The chaotic nature of the race and Leclerc’s absence from it made it difficult to assess how much hope Ferrari could carry into Grand Prix qualifying.
Back down to earth in qualifying
While it’s fair to say Hamilton was far from getting carried away by his Sprint display, what followed in qualifying was about as bad as could have been expected.
The 40-year-old had to scramble his way through Q1, burning an extra set of fresh soft tyres to escape from the drop zone in the closing moments after a big lock-up had ruined his first run.
Highlights of Saturday’s qualifying from the Miami Grand Prix at the Miami International Autodrome.
After that, it wasn’t much of a surprise when a poor second run in Q2 and another lock-up at the same corner – Turn 17 – led to elimination and a humbling P12 on the grid.
Hamilton attempted to put on a brave face but admitted to Sky Sports F1 that Ferrari are struggling to understand what is going wrong as they continue to fall spectacularly short of their pre-season expectation of being title challengers.
“We will keep trying. We are only six races in but we are struggling big time,” Hamilton said.
“We are trying our hardest not to make big set-up changes but no matter what we do it’s so inconsistent every time we go out.
Karun Chandhok is concerned Lewis Hamilton’s form is going the wrong way after finishing 31 seconds behind Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc in Saudi Arabia.
“We have problems with brakes, problems with this instability that we are struggling with and we are generally not quick enough. Just to get through to Q3 is tough for us.
“Once you are on the backfoot, it’s hard to pick up the points. Tomorrow will be hard work but we will try again. It’s the same thing for me, I’m used to it but I will keep trying.
“And I will be back at the factory next week and just keep going.”
Leclerc misery deepens Ferrari concern
For the previous three rounds, there were signs that Leclerc was getting to grips with the SF-25 as he backed up successive fourth place finishes in Japan and Bahrain with the team’s first Grand Prix podium of the season in Saudi Arabia.
However, the Monegaque was downcast about the car’s performance on Friday, and after qualifying eighth, confirmed to Sky Sports F1 on Saturday that he thinks it’s performing the worst it has all season.
“There was something strange in qualifying, something off. I was completely out of the window of the car for some reason,” Leclerc said.
Charles Leclerc feels there is something off with the Ferrari after qualifying eighth for the Miami GP.
“I started Q1 and we had to change the car a lot to get to where I wanted in Q3, which is very unusual but it never felt good and the performance of the car has been very bad.
“The feeling is not great. But it’s the way it is. It’s just frustrating because when you do your best and the best is P8, with a Ferrari it hurts and the two Williams in front of us, I didn’t do any mistakes… we are just not fast enough.”
Asked whether it was his worst experience of the season, Leclerc replied: “Yes. It’s also a track that’s different than other tracks. There’s a lot of low speed corners and at the moment we are paying the price in those corners.”
Ferrari’s best hope of success in Sunday’s race appears to be the possibility of rain throwing up more chaos, but even that might be not enough.
It appears highly likely that the team will head to the first of their two home races this season at Imola in two weeks’ time under extreme pressure to reverse a dismal start to 2025.
Sky Sports F1’s Miami GP schedule
The Miami Grand Prix is a unique experience, watch our favourite moments from the last few years!
Sunday May 4
- 6pm: F1 Academy Race 2
- 7.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Miami GP build-up*
- 9pm: THE MIAMI GRAND PRIX*
- 11pm: Chequered Flag: Miami GP reaction*
- Midnight: Ted’s Notebook
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 is in Miami for a Sprint weekend, watch it all live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Minnesota’s Cade Tyson Goes Off for Career High In Win vs. Texas Southern
Cade Tyson scored a career-high 38 points, including 23 in the first half, and Minnesota routed Texas Southern on Sunday, 89-53.Tyson, a transfer from North Carolina who also played at Belmont, made a career-high eight 3-pointers and grabbed 11 rebounds. He made 11 of 19 field goals overall, 8 of 12 3-pointers and 8 of 11 free throws.Jaylen Crocker-Johnson scored 14 points, Isaac Asuma 13, and Bobby Durkin 12 for the Golden Gophers (6-5). Langston Reynolds had 10 assists.Not only did the Gophers shoot 52% in the first half, they made nine 3-pointers (15 for the game). They led 20-13 with 7 1/2 minutes left before going on an 11-0 run. Minnesota's lead peaked at 22 points before going into halftime with a 45-25 lead.Minnesota pushed the lead to 29 points early in the second half. Later on, Tyson drained […]
No. 2 Texas Women Stay Undefeated With 89-54 Win Over No. 13 Baylor
Preseason AP All-America forward Madison Booker had 27 points and eight rebounds as second-ranked Texas stayed undefeated with an 89-54 victory over turnover-plagued No. 13 Baylor on Sunday in a matchup of former conference rivals.Texas (12-0) took control of the game with a 16-0 run in the first quarter when six different Longhorns players scored and Baylor had six turnovers in that span of just over four and a half minutes. The Bears finished with a season-high 30 turnovers, their most since Nov. 9, 2008, which led to 42 points for Texas.Baylor leading scorer Taliah Scott was injured midway through the second quarter after turning her right foot on a move to the basket and didn't return. Scott, Yuting Deng and Marcayla Johnson each had nine points for the Bears (10-2), and Darianna Littlepage-Buggs had 14 rebounds.Jordan Lee scored 19 […]
Bunting avoids huge shock as Van den Bergh knocked out
Stephen Bunting avoided a huge upset as he edged past Poland's Sebastian Bialecki 3-2 in the first round of the World Darts Championship.Bunting squandered a 2-0 lead in sets after a superb start and was taken to the first extended deciding set at this year's tournament, winning it 4-2 in legs. 'The Bullet' will next face India's Nitin Kumar, who made history by becoming the first player from his country to win a match at the World Championship earlier on Sunday. "Playing at Ally Pally you go through all the emotions. I was lucky to get away with that one," Bunting told Sky Sports Darts."I need to regroup, get back on the practice board, and get ready for the next game. I heard Toby [my son] shouting my name, I have got great support behind me, great family. "That is […]
Cowboys vs. Vikings prediction, odds, start time: Week 15 ‘Sunday Night Football’ picks from advanced model
Teams outside of the NFC playoff picture will meet on 'Sunday Night Football' when the Dallas Cowboys host the Minnesota Vikings. Dallas (6-6-1) is coming off a Thursday loss to Detroit, 44-30, which ended the Cowboys' three-game win streak. Minnesota (5-8) ended a four-game slide with a stunning 31-0 victory over Washington in Week 14. The Vikings would be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss to Dallas. Jake Ferguson (calf) is questionable for the Cowboys, while CeeDee Lamb has passed concussion protocol and will play.Kickoff is at 8:20 p.m. ET from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Dallas has won each of the last three meetings, which all came on the road. The latest Vikings vs. Cowboys odds have Dallas as 5.5-point favorites, while the over/under for total points scored is 47.5 via SportsLine consensus. Dallas is 7-6 against the […]
Amorim: I’m open to speaking with Mainoo if he wants January loan exit
Ruben Amorim says he is open to speaking to Kobbie Mainoo about his Manchester United future if the midfielder still wants to leave on loan in January. Mainoo, who requested a temporary switch in the summer, is yet to start a Premier League game this season, despite the United head coach saying he views the academy graduate "as a starter like the other players" after the 4-1 win at Wolves. Amorim's handling of Mainoo has infuriated club legends Paul Scholes, Rio Ferdinand and Nicky Butt who have all said the 20-year-old should leave United rather than waste his career waiting for opportunities. What has been said about Mainoo? Paul Scholes: "You would have to advise him to go. If he rang me and said 'I think Chelsea are in for me what do you think', I'd say 'all day long'." […]
Hawks’ Kristaps Porziņģis to miss next two weeks with mystery illness, per report
Atlanta Hawks big man Kristaps Porziņģis is expected to be sidelined for the next two weeks as he undergoes further evaluation stemming from an illness he's been dealing with, per ESPN. Porziņģis has already missed six of the team's last seven games due to the illness, and while he's going to miss some more time, the Hawks want to prioritize the long-term of this season, rather than a few more missed games in December.This isn't the first time Porziņģis has dealt with a mysterious illness. During the 2025 NBA playoffs when he was still a member of the Boston Celtics, the Latvian big man struggled with lethargy, saying, "The breathing wasn't good. I did everything I could potentially to feel as good as I could, but my engine wasn't running the way I wanted." He played through the postseason, but […]
Related
Minnesota’s Cade Tyson Goes Off for Career High In Win vs. Texas Southern
Cade Tyson scored a career-high 38 points, including 23 in the first half, and Minnesota routed Texas Southern on Sunday, 89-53.Tyson, a transfer from North Carolina who also played at Belmont, made a career-high eight 3-pointers and grabbed 11 rebounds. He made 11 of 19 field goals overall, 8 of 12 3-pointers and 8 of 11 free throws.Jaylen Crocker-Johnson scored 14 points, Isaac Asuma 13, and Bobby Durkin 12 for the Golden Gophers (6-5). Langston Reynolds had 10 assists.Not only did the Gophers shoot 52% in the first half, they made nine 3-pointers (15 for the game). They led 20-13 with 7 1/2 minutes left before going on an 11-0 run. Minnesota's lead peaked at 22 points before going into halftime with a 45-25 lead.Minnesota pushed the lead to 29 points early in the second half. Later on, Tyson drained […]
No. 2 Texas Women Stay Undefeated With 89-54 Win Over No. 13 Baylor
Preseason AP All-America forward Madison Booker had 27 points and eight rebounds as second-ranked Texas stayed undefeated with an 89-54 victory over turnover-plagued No. 13 Baylor on Sunday in a matchup of former conference rivals.Texas (12-0) took control of the game with a 16-0 run in the first quarter when six different Longhorns players scored and Baylor had six turnovers in that span of just over four and a half minutes. The Bears finished with a season-high 30 turnovers, their most since Nov. 9, 2008, which led to 42 points for Texas.Baylor leading scorer Taliah Scott was injured midway through the second quarter after turning her right foot on a move to the basket and didn't return. Scott, Yuting Deng and Marcayla Johnson each had nine points for the Bears (10-2), and Darianna Littlepage-Buggs had 14 rebounds.Jordan Lee scored 19 […]
Bunting avoids huge shock as Van den Bergh knocked out
Stephen Bunting avoided a huge upset as he edged past Poland's Sebastian Bialecki 3-2 in the first round of the World Darts Championship.Bunting squandered a 2-0 lead in sets after a superb start and was taken to the first extended deciding set at this year's tournament, winning it 4-2 in legs. 'The Bullet' will next face India's Nitin Kumar, who made history by becoming the first player from his country to win a match at the World Championship earlier on Sunday. "Playing at Ally Pally you go through all the emotions. I was lucky to get away with that one," Bunting told Sky Sports Darts."I need to regroup, get back on the practice board, and get ready for the next game. I heard Toby [my son] shouting my name, I have got great support behind me, great family. "That is […]
Cowboys vs. Vikings prediction, odds, start time: Week 15 ‘Sunday Night Football’ picks from advanced model
Teams outside of the NFC playoff picture will meet on 'Sunday Night Football' when the Dallas Cowboys host the Minnesota Vikings. Dallas (6-6-1) is coming off a Thursday loss to Detroit, 44-30, which ended the Cowboys' three-game win streak. Minnesota (5-8) ended a four-game slide with a stunning 31-0 victory over Washington in Week 14. The Vikings would be eliminated from playoff contention with a loss to Dallas. Jake Ferguson (calf) is questionable for the Cowboys, while CeeDee Lamb has passed concussion protocol and will play.Kickoff is at 8:20 p.m. ET from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Dallas has won each of the last three meetings, which all came on the road. The latest Vikings vs. Cowboys odds have Dallas as 5.5-point favorites, while the over/under for total points scored is 47.5 via SportsLine consensus. Dallas is 7-6 against the […]
Amorim: I’m open to speaking with Mainoo if he wants January loan exit
Ruben Amorim says he is open to speaking to Kobbie Mainoo about his Manchester United future if the midfielder still wants to leave on loan in January. Mainoo, who requested a temporary switch in the summer, is yet to start a Premier League game this season, despite the United head coach saying he views the academy graduate "as a starter like the other players" after the 4-1 win at Wolves. Amorim's handling of Mainoo has infuriated club legends Paul Scholes, Rio Ferdinand and Nicky Butt who have all said the 20-year-old should leave United rather than waste his career waiting for opportunities. What has been said about Mainoo? Paul Scholes: "You would have to advise him to go. If he rang me and said 'I think Chelsea are in for me what do you think', I'd say 'all day long'." […]
Hawks’ Kristaps Porziņģis to miss next two weeks with mystery illness, per report
Atlanta Hawks big man Kristaps Porziņģis is expected to be sidelined for the next two weeks as he undergoes further evaluation stemming from an illness he's been dealing with, per ESPN. Porziņģis has already missed six of the team's last seven games due to the illness, and while he's going to miss some more time, the Hawks want to prioritize the long-term of this season, rather than a few more missed games in December.This isn't the first time Porziņģis has dealt with a mysterious illness. During the 2025 NBA playoffs when he was still a member of the Boston Celtics, the Latvian big man struggled with lethargy, saying, "The breathing wasn't good. I did everything I could potentially to feel as good as I could, but my engine wasn't running the way I wanted." He played through the postseason, but […]
Be the first to leave a comment