Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 7: Shocking View
- (AP) — Italian racing enthusiasts are celebrating Kimi Antonelli's sprint pole win at the Miami Grand Prix, though he secured it driving a Mercedes.
- Earlier in the 2025 season, Hamilton clinched a victory from pole position at the first sprint weekend in China.
- Reflecting on his sprint qualifying performance, Hamilton said, "It went better than in previous weekends.
Antonelli Takes Miami Sprint Pole; Hamilton, Leclerc Disappointed
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Italian racing enthusiasts are celebrating Kimi Antonelli’s sprint pole win at the Miami Grand Prix, though he secured it driving a Mercedes. The Ferrari drivers,Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton,faced disappointment,qualifying in sixth and seventh place,respectively.
Earlier in the 2025 season, Hamilton clinched a victory from pole position at the first sprint weekend in China. However, that remains the singular radiant spot in what has otherwise been a lackluster season. In Miami, there was little indication of a turnaround for the English driver, who will start seventh, positioned near his teammate Leclerc.
Hamilton’s Assessment
Reflecting on his sprint qualifying performance, Hamilton said, “It went better than in previous weekends. However, the car felt more cozy to drive during free practice than in qualifying. We’re simply too slow and need to keep working.”
Hamilton also expressed concern about Ferrari’s speed deficit. “I don’t know how I’m going to advance in the sprint because the cars ahead of us are all faster,” he stated.
Looking ahead, Hamilton added, “We have several ideas on how to improve the car, and time will tell if they are the right ones. We’ve learned a lot about coordination and handling adjustments. But extracting more speed from the car will require hard work.”
Miami Sprint Qualifying Results
Below are the results from the Miami sprint qualifying session:
| Position | Driver (Nationality) | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli (I) | Mercedes | 1:26.482 |
| 2 | Oscar Piastri (AUS) | McLaren | 1:26.527 |
| 3 | Lando Norris (GB) | McLaren | 1:26.582 |
| 4 | Max Verstappen (NL) | Red Bull Racing | 1:26.737 |
| 5 | George Russell (GB) | Mercedes | 1:26.791 |
| 6 | Charles Leclerc (MC) | Ferrari | 1:26.808 |
| 7 | Lewis Hamilton (GB) | Ferrari | 1:27.030 |
| 8 | Alex Albon (T) | Williams | 1:27.193 |
| 9 | Isack Hadjar (F) | Racing bulls | 1:27.543 |
| 10 | Fernando Alonso (E) | aston Martin | 1:27.790 |
| 11 | Nico Hülkenberg (D) | Sauber | 1:27.850 |
| 12 | Esteban Ocon (F) | Haas | 1:28.070 |
| 13 | Pierre Gasly (F) | Alpine | 1:28.167 |
| 14 | Liam Lawson (NZ) | Racing Bulls | 1:28.375 |
| 15 | Carlos Sainz (E) | Williams | No time |
| 16 | Lance Stroll (CDN) | aston Martin | 1:29.028 |
| 17 | Jack Doohan (AUS) | Alpine | 1:29.171 |
| 18 | Yuki Tsunoda (J) | Red Bull Racing | 1:29.246 |
| 19 | Gabriel Bortoleto (BR) | Sauber | 1:29.312 |
| 20 | Oliver Bearman (GB) | Haas | 1:29.825 |
Antonelli’s Sprint Pole Win: Disappointment for Hamilton and Leclerc in Miami
Welcome to our deep dive into the Miami Grand Prix sprint qualifying! We’ll analyze the key takeaways,dissect Lewis Hamilton’s struggles,and break down the results in a comprehensive,Q&A format.
Q&A: unpacking the Miami Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying
Q: Who won the sprint pole position at the Miami Grand Prix, and what were the initial reactions?
A: Kimi Antonelli, driving for Mercedes, secured the sprint pole position at the Miami Grand Prix.This victory brought celebration for Italian racing enthusiasts. However, the Ferrari drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, experienced meaningful disappointment, qualifying in sixth and seventh place, respectively.
Q: How did Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes performance compare to the Ferrari drivers?
A: While Antonelli’s pace was strong enough to secure the pole position, the Ferrari drivers, Leclerc and Hamilton, found themselves trailing. This highlighted a potential performance gap between the Mercedes and Ferrari cars during the sprint qualifying. The race will determine if Ferrari can improve their pace during the feature race.
Q: Has Lewis Hamilton had a prosperous season leading up to the Miami Grand Prix, and what were his expectations for this race?
A: Prior to Miami, Hamilton had only one significant highlight in the 2025 season: a victory from pole position at the first sprint weekend in China.This win served as a lonely bright spot in what hamilton described as a lackluster season.Thus, there was a strong desire to gain momentum in Miami.
Q: What were Lewis Hamilton’s comments after the sprint qualifying session?
A: Hamilton expressed both positive and negative observations.Key quotes include:
“It went better than in previous weekends.” (Acknowledging a slight advancement.)
“Though, the car felt more cozy to drive during free practice than in qualifying.” (Highlighting an issue with car handling during qualifying.)
“We’re simply too slow and need to keep working.” (Identifying a key disadvantage.)
”I don’t know how I’m going to advance in the sprint as the cars ahead of us are all faster.” (Expressing concern.)
“We have several ideas on how to improve the car, and time will tell if they are the right ones. We’ve learned a lot about coordination and handling adjustments.But extracting more speed from the car will require hard work.” (Highlighting the path to improvement.)
Q: What speed deficit was Hamilton concerned about? and who did he mention might be arduous to pass?
A: Hamilton voiced his worries about the speed difference between him and the other cars on the track. He recognized that the cars ahead of him were all faster, making it challenging for him to advance during the Sprint race. While Hamilton didn’t specifically call out any individual drivers, he was referring to those who qualified ahead of him, likely including Antonelli, Piastri, Norris, Verstappen, and Russell.
Q: Summarize the Miami Sprint Qualifying Results.
A: Here’s a breakdown of the top 10 and some notable results from the Miami Sprint Qualifying:
| Position | Driver (Nationality) | Team | Time |
| :——- | :——————- | :————- | :——— |
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli (I) | mercedes | 1:26.482 |
| 2 | Oscar Piastri (AUS) | McLaren | 1:26.527 |
| 3 | Lando Norris (GB) | McLaren | 1:26.582 |
| 4 | Max Verstappen (NL) | Red Bull Racing| 1:26.737 |
| 5 | George Russell (GB) | Mercedes | 1:26.791 |
| 6 | Charles Leclerc (MC) | Ferrari | 1:26.808 |
| 7 | Lewis Hamilton (GB) | Ferrari | 1:27.030 |
| 8 | Alex Albon (T) | Williams | 1:27.193 |
| 9 | Isack Hadjar (F) | Racing Bulls | 1:27.543 |
| 10 | Fernando Alonso (E) | Aston Martin | 1:27.790 |
Notable: Max Verstappen in P4, showing Red Bull’s continued strong performance, and George Russell in P5, securing a good starting position for Mercedes. Carlos Sainz (E), driving for Williams, did not set a time.
Q: What challenges might Lewis Hamilton face in the upcoming sprint race?
A: Given his seventh-place qualifying position and the speed deficit he described, Hamilton faces several challenges:
Overtaking: The Miami circuit may not offer many easy overtaking opportunities, making it difficult to move up the field.
Car Performance: The Ferrari’s performance relative to the leaders will be crucial. Even if Hamilton can improve, he’ll need his car to be competitive.
* Tire Strategy: tyre management will play a strategic role. Selecting the right compound and minimizing degradation will be key to securing a good position.
Q: What are some possible future approaches/solutions for the Ferrari team according to Hamilton?
A: Hamilton mentioned that Ferrari has “several ideas on how to improve the car.” He emphasized ongoing research, understanding the car’s handling, and coordination. He also acknowledged the high need for hard work to extract more speed from the car and improve future performance.
Q: Is the Miami Grand prix sprint qualifying a good indicator of race day performance?
A: Not always. While it sets the grid for the sprint race and may have some impact, it is indeed only a small predictor of what may happen. Race day performance incorporates many factors, including car setups, strategy, pit stops, tire management, and driver skill. Therefore, while the qualifying results provide an initial glimpse of the competitive order, the main event is where the race results really come into play.
conclusion:
The Miami Grand Prix sprint qualifying presented an engaging picture with Antonelli’s pole position and Hamilton’s disappointment. It sets the stage for an exciting sprint race full of strategical implications and adjustments by Ferrari to try and improve Lewis Hamilton’s race outcome.
