What Happened? The Secret Behind Lewis Hamilton’s Shocking 4th Place Finish at Imola
The 2025 Formula 1 season has already delivered plenty of drama, but Lewis Hamilton’s 4th place finish at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola stunned fans worldwide. Coming into the weekend with strong momentum, many expected Hamilton to fight for the win. So, what went wrong?
Hamilton started the race from P3, showing promising pace in qualifying. However, early in the race, he struggled with tire degradation, especially on the medium compound. Mercedes’ strategy was also called into question — opting for an early pit stop to undercut rivals backfired as Hamilton got stuck behind traffic, losing valuable seconds.
Another key factor was the unexpected performance leap from McLaren and Ferrari. Lando Norris in particular put on a stellar display, challenging Verstappen and securing a podium finish. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc’s aggressive race pace saw him edge ahead of Hamilton in the closing laps.
Hamilton’s car also suffered from minor floor damage after going wide at the Variante Alta chicane, affecting downforce and stability in high-speed corners. Although the damage wasn’t race-ending, it was enough to lose a competitive edge.
Despite the setback, Hamilton remained composed in post-race interviews, acknowledging the team’s effort and pointing to areas for improvement. “We didn’t get it right today, but we’ll bounce back,” he stated.
While a 4th place finish isn’t catastrophic, it was certainly unexpected for a seven-time world champion at a circuit where he has previously dominated. The Imola GP serves as a stark reminder of how competitive the 2025 grid is — and that even legends can have off days. All eyes now turn to the next race, where Hamilton will be aiming for redemption and a return to the top step of the podium.