Hamilton (Ferrari/4th) without a penalty: “I don’t know what to expect”

There was a sense of excitement in the air at the Madring: Ferrari superstar Lewis Hamilton had set the fastest time, and one or two Tifosi will have asked themselves with anticipation – when was the last time the seven-time world champion actually secured pole position in a Grand Prix? It was in Hungary in 2023, back when he was still driving for Mercedes.

But then Ferrari’s hopes of pole position vanished into thin air, as Lando Norris, Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen managed to do just a little better on the Madring in the end. So Hamilton will have to wait a little longer, as will Ferrari; the Reds have now gone without a Grand Prix pole since Hungary 2025 (Charles Leclerc).

As ever, Lewis Hamilton makes no secret of the fact that his 105th Formula 1 pole position has slipped through his fingers. His face says it all.

The Englishman sums up his qualifying session as follows: “The car felt good; we just weren’t quick enough. As for the race, none of us knows exactly what to expect on the Madring circuit. At first glance, overtaking will be difficult, but to be honest, I don’t know what to expect from the Grand Prix.”

A small consolation: the race stewards of the International Automobile Federation (FIA) have decided not to impose a penalty on Lewis Hamilton. As a reminder, the 41-year-old Briton continued driving in his damaged Ferrari after his crash in the third free practice session and only pulled over when it really was no longer possible to continue.

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The rule-makers’ directive actually states: a damaged car that is in an unsafe condition must be pulled over – and quickly. Hamilton is lucky that the race stewards have turned a blind eye in this instance.