Hamilton Takes Comeback Podium At Sepang: "A Bittersweet Result"

Lewis Hamilton finished third in the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia. Max Verstappen won the race, with Kimi Antonelli second. Hamilton described his result as bittersweet, having recovered from running about a minute behind the leaders at one stage to reach the podium.

The race at Sepang was first delayed by thunderstorms in the area. The initial start procedure was then suspended after several drivers, including Hamilton, struggled to keep up speed on the formation lap. When the race got under way in mixed conditions, Hamilton, who started second, chose slick soft tyres over intermediates. The track did not dry as quickly as hoped, and he dropped to 17th on the first lap, around a minute behind the leaders.

Ferrari suggested a tyre change over the radio, but Hamilton made the call from the cockpit to gamble and stay on softs. It ultimately paid off. In a race full of tyre changes and chasing, with the pit crew performing well, Hamilton worked his way back up the order to third.

Hamilton said the team had an opportunity and did not fully maximise it. He admitted the early decision was a wrong call and that watching the rest of the field pull away was very hard. Seeing the one-minute gap on the screen, he thought the race was over, but he kept his head down and carried on. He added that he never expected to get back to third and was very happy with it.

He called it one of his better weekends in red, praising the engineers and mechanics for getting the car in the right place on Saturday, and saying the car felt good in the race. He said the team will review what it could have done better and wants to carry the performance into next week.