Hamilton ‘grateful’ to Ferrari after major setup change boosts Miami GP confidence
Photo: Race Pictures
11:15, 03 May
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Olly Darcy is an editor at GPblog, specializing in Formula 1 news. With a background in sports journalism, he delivers timely and reliable coverage of the sport.
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton said he was "grateful" for his team after changing the setup of his car completely for qualifying at the Miami Grand Prix.
The 41-year-old struggled during the Sprint sessions in South Flordia, finishing P7 in the Sprint race while teammate Charles Leclerc finished in third.
Hamilton could only move up one spot to finish P6 in qualifying for Sunday’s Grand Prix, but a complete change to the setup and balance of his car has left the Brit feeling far more confident for the 57-lap race.
"The car was a lot better. It was a lot better in this session," the Brit stated after qualifying to GPblog and others in the Miami paddock.
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"We changed the car completely for qualifying. I just have to say I'm really, really grateful for all the hard work the team have been putting in, pushing to get better.
"We made an improvement going into qualifying, but that's not a place to practice, and so I took the whole session just getting used to this change. If I started with that, as Charles did in FP1, I think I would have been in a better position. But, we made an improvement."
Lewis Hamilton in action after qualifying P6 for the Mimai Grand Prix - Photo: Race Pictures
Hamilton hoping for rain in Miami
Sunday's Grand Prix will start earlier than originally planned due to expected thunderstorms hitting Miami Gardens this afternoon.
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As a result, the race has been moved forward by three hours to 13:00 local time (18:00 BST) to avoid the adverse conditions.
However, some showers are also in the forecast during the new start time, something that Hamilton would "welcome happily", even though the seven-time World Champion is looking forward to the Grand Prix after a positive qualifying session.
Lewis Hamilton's teammate Charles Leclerc qualified P3 for the Miami Grand Prix - Photo: Race Pictures
"I feel optimistic for tomorrow. I think, as I said, I made improvements today, and the car felt better," continued a hopeful Hamilton.
"It's the first time I've been happy with the car this weekend. Q2 was looking strong, and then I just didn't get the next two laps after that, so there's definitely more performance in the car, and just having to extract the new performance with the upgrade we have.
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"I think now we've made some improvements going into this session. We didn't have software issues, and the car was so much nicer to drive. So I think we just got to get the car in a sweet spot, which I think was closer to the sweet spot in this session, and so lots of learning to take."
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Miami Grand Prix
Overview
Friday 01.05.26
Practice 1
04:00 PM
Sprint Qualification
08:30 PM
Saturday 02.05.26
Sprint Race
04:00 PM
Qualification
08:00 PM
Sunday 03.05.26
Race
08:00 PM
Friday 01.05.26
Practice 1
Fri 04:00 PM
Sprint Qualification
Fri 08:30 PM
Saturday 02.05.26
Sprint Race
Sat 04:00 PM
Qualification
Sat 08:00 PM
Sunday 03.05.26
Race
Sun 08:00 PM
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