Lewis Hamilton, the Mercedes driver, proved his worth as the best driver again on the Autodrome Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit.
The seven-time world champion left his mark at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix by finishing in the top three during the Friday and Saturday sessions.
However, the Silver Arrow knight over-steered his W12 into the gravel at Tosa, heading to a P8 drop. But, Hamilton never lost hope and then made a heroic comeback in the race, eventually finishing at P2.
A lesson in 'never give up', from @LewisHamilton 👏#ImolaGP 🇮🇹 #F1 pic.twitter.com/QMnKLCD4Lv
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 18, 2021
Lewis Hamilton at the Emilia Romagna GP
The seven-time world champion begun the race with a pole position on the grid. But as soon as the race started, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took the lead from the Briton. Thus, the Briton was fighting the Dutch prodigy for the lead while also protecting his P2 from Sergio Perez.
Hamilton was having a hard time overtaking the 23-year-old Dutch. But during Lap 31, the 36-year-old Brit beached his car at Tosa and also hit the wall. However, the car didn’t take any major damage, thus he rejoined the race at P8.
Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes AMG F1 W12 reverses back onto the circuit after going off at Tosa at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Imola, Italy, on April 18.
Before Hamilton could push the lead, the race was discontinued because of a massive crash. However, this gave an opportunity to the Briton to cool down and strategize for taking down the racers ahead.
Reset. Refocus. Still a race to run. 👊 pic.twitter.com/6mYlsrWPA1
— Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) April 18, 2021
As soon as the race resumed, Hamilton was like a hungry beast on a hunt for the lead and thus, squeezed down Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll at Tamburello to get the P7. Soon after Perez also beached his car, resulting in Hamilton at P6.
Then the Silver Arrow pilot moves ahead of Daniel Ricciardo, who was in fifth place on the circuit. After the P5, Lewis attack both the Ferrari drivers for the P4 and P3. During Lap 55, he snatches the P4 from Charles Leclerc.
Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes AMG F1 goes ahead of Charles Leclerc of Ferrari F1 during Lap 55 at the Emilia Romagna GP on Sunday, April 18, 2021.
The biggest hurdle for the Billion Dollar Man was the McLaren prodigy, Lando Norris, as the young Briton was giving a tough competition to Hamilton. However, the Mercedes (44) finally steered ahead of McLaren (4) during Lap 60. Further, Hamilton tried to overtake Verstappen but failed and had to settle with a P2.
Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes AMG F1 takes the P2 from Lando Norris of McLaren F1 during Lap 60 of the Emila Romagna Grand Prix on Sunday, April 18. 2021.
After the race, the seven-time world champion went to congratulate Norris. Hamilton further reported on his performance at Imola, “On my side, it was not the greatest of days – the first time I made a mistake in a long time, but I’m grateful to have been able to bring the car home today”
LEWIS: "Congratulations to Max – he did a fantastic job today. Also to Lando – what an awesome job.
"On my side it was not the greatest of days – first time I made a mistake in a long time, but I’m grateful to have been able to bring the car home today"#ImolaGP 🇮🇹 #F1 pic.twitter.com/jbHvZ9vKsW
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 18, 2021
We will witness Lewis Hamilton behind the wheel of W12 again at the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve on Sunday, May 2. We might again witness the British driver on the podium and taking another step closer to his eighth title.
