Hamilton finally feels ‘connection and synergy’ with Ferrari in climb to P4

Lewis Hamilton says he finally felt a connection and synergy with his Ferrari as he climbed from 12th on the grid to finish just outside the podium positions in the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

Ferrari had a dismal qualifying session with both cars eliminated in Q2, Hamilton one position behind teammate Charles Leclerc. The car’s race pace looked good on Friday although overtaking was expected to be tough at Imola. But both cars bounced back to finish in the top six, with Hamilton crossing the line fourth, just 1.4s behind Oscar Piastri in third.

“Obviously I couldn't hear them, but to drive in front of the Tifosi today, this weekend, has been a highlight of the year so far,” Hamilton said. “You know, there's a lot of pressure on us as a team with struggling through the year so far with the car and particularly with our qualifying. So to have such a strong race and to be moving forwards, making ground, it was such a great feeling.

“And I would say for me, I don’t remember the last time I had a race like that where you're moving forwards. I'm sure there was one maybe last year but this one's different, obviously, because I'm in the red car. And I haven't done that yet.

“So to finally have that connection, that synergy with the car today and progressing was a really great feeling.”

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While the strong result is a boost for Ferrari, the overall performance from Hamilton could prove to be particularly significant as he has struggled at times to find ways of getting the most out of his car.

“I don't want to jinx it [but] for sure, there's lots of positives to take away from today," he said. "And we had pace. So we really need to dissect and understand where, what and why.

“I did think we would make an improvement this weekend with something we were going to try and fix. And I think there's more to come. But the setup was really good – the car felt mega setup-wise. And the strategists, the team did a fantastic job with strategy calls and pit stops. So overall, mega job from Ferrari.”

Teammate Leclerc was less enthused after an early pit stop had gained him multiple positions but then the Monegasque felt the timing of virtual safety car and safety car interruptions hurt him.

"I was very frustrated with the safety car especially, because the first one was in completely the wrong place for my strategy," Leclerc said. "The second one was horrible because I couldn't take it, because I had no tires left. So it was just a frustrating day but it's the way it is – it's always going to be frustrating when you are fighting for P4, P5, P6. I know, I feel that I'm driving frustrated already, so it's just annoying.”

Leclerc crossed the line in sixth after giving up a position to Alex Albon following the recommendation of his team, with the pair going wheel-to-wheel at Tamburello and Albon being forced through the gravel on the outside.

“It was extremely difficult and I was very much on the limit with Alex and I'm aware of it," he said. "But starting P11, I knew I had to take risks with those kind of [situations]. I'll look back at it and see how it is from outside, because you always see the situation in a different way, but I gave it all until the end and that I don't regret.”