Lewis Hamilton has revealed he never expected to finish Sunday’s Formula 1 Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in fourth place, Afrosport reports.
The Imola circuit was filled with passionate Tifosi out for the Scuderia as Hamilton started the race in 12th behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
Starting on the hard tyre, the seven-time world champion showed incredible pace and benefited from two free pit stops from two safety car windows to end the race in fourth place ahead of Alex Albon, Leclerc and former Mercedes teammate George Russell.
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Reflecting on the race, Hamilton said: “I definitely didn’t expect to finish fourth.
“I didn’t know where we would be, given we were so far back, but the car really felt great, the team did a fantastic job with the strategy – they were faultless.
“I think we’re slowly getting there, and I think me and Riccardo [Adami] did a fantastic job with his communication with me.
“I was calm, so then I think he was calm, and the team were calm and executing the strategy, and the pit stops were awesome.
“So overall, mega. I was hoping for some extra laps. Obviously, the Safety Car lost them, or we could have maybe fought for a podium.”
Hamilton further added that there is more to come from the SF25 car after struggling in the opening six races with different issues.
“I did think we would make an improvement this weekend with something I’ve fixed. And I think there is more to come,” he explained.
“The set-up was really good, the car felt really mega, and the team did a fantastic job on strategy and pit stops.
“It was a lot of pressure on us with struggling through the year with the car so far, and particularly with our qualifying.
“I don’t remember the last time I had a race like that moving forwards. I’m sure there was one last year, but this was different because I’m in the red car. To finally have that connection, that synergy with the car, was a really great feeling.
“Bit by bit strategy started to pan out, and the car really came alive when I got on to the medium tyres, and a great call at the end.”
Hamilton’s fourth-place represents his best finish in his stint with Ferrari so far, and has moved him up to sixth in the drivers’ championship, a massive 93 points behind leader Oscar Piastri.
