After securing fifth place in qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton is targeting his first podium finish since joining Ferrari. He qualified as the leading Ferrari driver for Sunday`s race in Barcelona.
Following a challenging Friday where he described his experience as `not fun` around the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Hamilton bounced back in qualifying. He matched his best grid position for Ferrari and qualified ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc (seventh) for only the second time in nine attempts this season.
Hamilton reported a significant improvement in the car`s handling, stating the SF-25 felt `much more drivable` and `much more enjoyable`. This change came after the team resolved an issue with the floor that had severely impacted downforce during Friday practice, where he finished 11th quickest.
Starting behind the dominant McLarens, Red Bull`s Max Verstappen, and Mercedes` George Russell, Hamilton is now focused on the upcoming 66-lap race. The race strategy is expected to revolve around a two-stop approach, likely with varied tyre choices among the drivers.
Speaking after qualifying, Hamilton expressed anticipation for the race.
He noted the extreme competitiveness of the field, stating that “Half a tenth can put you from sixth to 11th.”
Hamilton added that managing tyre wear during the long runs would be challenging for everyone and highlighted the different tyre strategies adopted by drivers for the race, with some having two sets of mediums available.
He emphasized that the optimal tyre choice and strategy remain uncertain, and securing a strong start would be crucial.
His primary objective for Sunday is clear: “My goal is to try and get a podium.” He acknowledged that he has been waiting for a Grand Prix podium for a considerable time.
While Hamilton has achieved top-three finishes in the short-form Saturday Sprint races this season (winning in China and taking third in Miami), his last traditional Grand Prix podium came when he finished second for Mercedes at the Las Vegas Grand Prix last November, 11 races ago. Overall, Hamilton has only secured one podium finish in his last 18 Grand Prix starts.
Leclerc Explains Tyre Strategy Gamble
Teammate Charles Leclerc, starting seventh, also aims for a podium finish despite a qualifying strategy gamble that may have compromised his grid position. Leclerc opted for only one flying lap on new soft tyres in Q3, prioritizing saving an extra set of medium tyres for the race.
Explaining his decision, Leclerc said that Ferrari had fewer new sets of soft tyres available compared to many competitors, meaning he chose to use only three new soft sets throughout qualifying. He took responsibility for this strategic choice, stating, “I sacrificed today, I hope it will pay off tomorrow. If it doesn`t, it`s my fault.”
Leclerc, who has achieved two podiums this season (including a victory in Monaco), stated that his race-day target is “The podium.” He believes their race pace is strong and the potential for a podium finish will depend on their ability to overtake.
