The British driver qualified third on the grid but crossed the finish line in sixth place after his team chose an unusual set of tires. Since Mercedes was unable to show the raw speed necessary to overtake second-place Max Verstappen over the course of the race, the Silver Arrows started Hamilton on soft-compound tires in the hopes of overtaking the Dutchman at Turn One and gaining track position.
Mercedes’ technical director James Allison explained that starting on soft tyres was a mistake, as Hamilton struggled with tyre temperatures. This led to a long stint on hard tyres, and the seven-time world champion was eventually overtaken by George Russell, Oscar Piastri, and Charles Leclerc.
“We didn’t anticipate the difficulties we faced on the soft rubber. We expected to gain a few positions, but that wasn’t the case. The pace picked up around lap five, leaving Lewis with a car that wasn’t particularly happy.