Hamilton's Optimism After Imola

Lewis Hamilton's first race for Ferrari on Italian soil was a rollercoaster of emotions. After a disappointing qualifying session where both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc missed Q3, Hamilton managed to turn things around on race day. Starting from 12th, he finished fourth, thanks to a clever alternate tire strategy and timely calls from the Ferrari pit wall during a late safety car period.

"China was pretty great, but I would say this one is better," Hamilton said. "I've always loved when you're fighting from further back and coming through. That's how I started off as a kid, that's always such a better feeling than starting first and finishing first. But definitely, absolutely mega race. There are so many positives to take from it."

Leclerc's Frustrations

While Hamilton celebrated his comeback, Leclerc's race was less fortunate. The safety car deployment, which helped Hamilton, left Leclerc exposed as he chose not to pit for fresh tires. This decision allowed Alex Albon in the Williams to overtake him late in the race. Leclerc, the long-suffering face of Ferrari, expressed his frustration with the team's current situation.

"It was one of the races where you've got to race with the heart and you've got to put the elbows out a little bit," Leclerc told Sky Sports F1. "I know that when it's like this, you go very much on the limit, sometimes a little bit over. But when you are starting P11, I mean, as a driver, I just cannot accept the situation we are in."

Ferrari's Struggles

Ferrari entered the 2025 season with high hopes, buoyed by Hamilton's arrival and a strong finish in the previous year's constructors' championship. However, the season has been a struggle so far. The team is currently fourth in the constructors' championship, 165 points behind McLaren.

Leclerc highlighted the team's ongoing issues with the car's performance, particularly in qualifying. "In the race, but before that, it's not there. We don't understand why yet," he said. This lack of understanding has been a recurring theme, with the team unable to replicate the success they found in the latter half of the previous season.

Looking Ahead

The next race in Monaco will be a crucial test for Ferrari. The narrow and twisty circuit of Monte Carlo places a premium on qualifying performance, an area where Ferrari has struggled this year. Leclerc, who broke his hometown curse at Monaco last year, is not optimistic about repeating that success.

"A very difficult weekend," was his assessment of what to expect in Monaco. "I think Monaco is exposing quite a few weaknesses of our car, so I don't know, but there are also many things that you cannot really expect."

Conclusion

Hamilton's optimism after Imola is a positive sign for Ferrari, but Leclerc's frustrations underscore the team's deeper issues. As the season progresses, Ferrari will need to find solutions quickly if they hope to contend for the championship.