Lewis Hamilton is gearing up for an “aggressive” pursuit of his first Ferrari Grand Prix podium this Sunday, as he aims to break a 19-race podium drought. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion has positioned himself strongly after qualifying third for the Mexico City Grand Prix, marking a significant opportunity to finally secure a top-three finish with Ferrari.
In fact, Hamilton is the first driver in Ferrari’s storied 75-year F1 history to remain without a podium after 19 Grand Prix entries. While he clinched victory in the Sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix earlier this season, he has struggled to replicate that success in full-length races. However, his chances look promising as Ferrari showcased impressive performance during qualifying at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
Lando Norris claimed pole position with an outstanding lap, but Hamilton will have his teammate, Charles Leclerc, right behind him in second place. The Mexico City track features the longest run to Turn 1 of the season, making it challenging for pole-sitters to maintain their lead. This dynamic often allows drivers starting from second or third to seize control early in the race, and that’s precisely Hamilton’s plan as he aims to overtake both Leclerc and Norris.
Hamilton expressed his excitement about having two Ferraris at the front of the grid, stating, “It’s great to have two Ferraris up there; it’s pretty cool. I’m grateful. Charles put in a fantastic lap, showing incredible speed throughout the weekend. I’m thankful to be in third place, and I’m looking to take advantage of that. It would be amazing to secure my first Grand Prix podium with Ferrari.”
While Hamilton will start on harder tires compared to his opponents, he remains optimistic about his position, saying, “P3 is not a bad place to start here because you can draft, so I’ll be aggressive and aim to move forward.”
Reflecting on his performance, Hamilton felt more comfortable in his car during qualifying, a feeling that has been rare for him this year. The 40-year-old driver expressed his joy at the progress he and his team have made, despite the challenges he faced in adapting to the car.
“I’m thrilled to be in the top three. It’s taken me all year to reach this point, and it’s been a serious mountain to climb. But I’m finally starting to gel with everything around me. My engineers and I are extracting the performance from the car, and I couldn’t be happier,” he added. “It’s been a tough year, and it’s hard to believe it’s taken this long to get here, but that’s okay. What matters is the journey, and I’ve grown a lot through it.”
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