Hamilton turns Sepang setback into a remarkable Ferrari podium

Lewis Hamilton’s race at Sepang swung from apparent defeat to a remarkable third place, as the Ferrari driver recovered from an early tyre gamble and a costly power-unit software issue to reach the podium after a late safety car.

From the back to the front of the fight

Ferrari’s first major call, however, went against the conditions: the team put Hamilton on dry tyres when intermediates were the right choice. He quickly slipped down the order as rivals pulled away, and the deficit looked overwhelming from the cockpit.

Recovery delivers a podium

Hamilton worked his way through the pack, supported by a series of pit stops and multiple tyre changes, before a late safety car helped bring him back into contention. He ultimately secured third, turning a race that had appeared lost into a major recovery for Ferrari.

His post-race comments captured both the frustration of the opening phase and his satisfaction with the fight back. He congratulated Max and described the contest as “a tough race,” while acknowledging Ferrari’s initial error. He also praised the team’s work in the pits and called it the best race he had experienced at the venue.

The result hinged on persistence after the first decision left Hamilton facing a steep recovery. His account also underlined how quickly the race’s prospects changed: from watching the field disappear to chasing through it and reaching the podium. Ferrari’s strategy calls were central to that shifting picture, a theme explored in this account of Hamilton and Ferrari’s Barcelona strategy.

For Hamilton, the finish was not simply a podium. It was the culmination of a demanding afternoon in which the initial setback never became the final word.