Hamilton drops to 18th… then fights back onto the podium

Lewis Hamilton went from the front row to 18th place and then back to the podium in the same race. Ferrari chose slick tyres at the start while the track was still too wet. Hamilton immediately realised the gamble was wrong when he saw Verstappen and Antonelli stay on intermediates.

Rather than pit again immediately after already losing significant time, Hamilton chose to stay out. As the track dried, the strategy stopped being such a handicap and he began moving back through the field. The Safety Cars also helped bring him back into contention.

In the closing laps, Russell’s retirement opened the fight for the podium. Hamilton eventually passed Hadjar at Turn 1 and finished third, just ahead of Charles Leclerc. Ferrari turned an almost disastrous opening phase into a P3-P4 finish.