Lewis Hamilton narrowly avoided a disastrous crash similar to Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc’s ahead of securing a surprise third-place finish in the Miami Grand Prix Sprint.
The Miami International Autodrome was hit by a pre-race rain shower that left the track slippery and unpredictable. Leclerc fell victim to the conditions, losing control of his SF-25 and slamming into the barriers on the way to the grid after aquaplaning at Turn 11. The crash inflicted significant damage, forcing the Monegasque driver to retire before the race even began.
Hamilton, elevated to fifth in Leclerc’s absence, capitalized on a crucial tyre strategy and a drying track to climb the order. Despite starting the race on Intermediate tyres like the rest of the field, the seven-time world champion made a well-timed switch to slicks that paid off as he surged to third behind the two McLarens.
Speaking to the media, Hamilton revealed just how close he came to suffering the same fate as Leclerc:
“When we went out for the formation lap, Charles had that moment — and I had exactly the same moment right behind him. Somehow, my car stopped going toward the wall at the last second. It was almost both of us out. To go from that to finishing on the podium, I’m incredibly grateful.”
Hamilton admitted that his early struggles in the race were a blessing in disguise. Trailing the front pack and under pressure from Alex Albon’s Williams, Hamilton realized he needed to gamble with a tyre change. The decision proved pivotal.
“I was really sliding around on the Intermediates, full lock through Turn 12 and 16, and it still wasn’t turning. I thought, ‘I’ve got to roll the dice.’”
The switch allowed him to undercut both Mercedes cars and catch Max Verstappen, whose tyres hadn’t warmed up, enabling Hamilton to sweep past and secure the final podium spot.
“Honestly, I’m really happy with the result. Qualifying wasn’t great — we were quite a bit off. But making the right call at the right time really turned it around,” Hamilton added. “Maybe I should have pitted a lap or two earlier, but I think the result would’ve been the same. The McLarens were just too far ahead. Still, great to bring home the points.”