Hamilton Alone, Champion Suffers Double Fire – 5 Things You Might Have Missed from…read more
The 2025 Imola Grand Prix delivered a thrilling spectacle on track, but there was just as much drama simmering beneath the surface. Beyond the checkered flag and podium celebrations, here are five key moments you might have missed from a fiery and emotional weekend at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari.
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1 Hamilton Left Alone in Strategy Gamble Gone Wrong
In a baffling strategic decision, Lewis Hamilton found himself isolated on a one-stop strategy while rivals around him made aggressive late pit stops during the Virtual Safety Car. Mercedes’ gamble didn’t pay off — Hamilton was left defending on worn tires and dropped back to P5, visibly frustrated post-race.
> “I was out there on my own. It felt like no one was behind the wheel on the pit wall,” Hamilton remarked, fueling speculation of tension within the team.
2 Double Fire Chaos in the Pit Lane
Two separate fire-related incidents brought an extra level of danger to the paddock:
A brake fire engulfed the right rear of Nico Hülkenberg’s Haas during lap 27, forcing his retirement.
* Minutes later, Sergio Pérez’s Red Bull briefly caught fire during a pit stop due to a fuel spill, though it was quickly extinguished by alert mechanics.
Both drivers escaped unharmed, but the incidents have prompted urgent reviews of pit lane safety protocols.
3 Radio Silence Between Verstappen and Engineer Raises Eyebrows
Despite claiming victory, Max Verstappen had a surprisingly terse exchange with his race engineer. Mid-race, Verstappen ignored a call to adjust his engine settings, responding with a sharp “Let me drive.” Post-race, he offered no debrief on team radio — a rare break from Red Bull’s usually smooth communications.
Ferrari’s Pit Wall Masterclass
In front of a roaring home crowd, Ferrari executed flawless double-stack pit stops helping both Leclerc and Sainz maintain track position during a chaotic VSC window. The team’s split strategy allowed Leclerc to secure, marking Ferrari’s most convincing tactical display of the season.
5 Alpine Team Orders Create Tension
A quiet feud is brewing at Alpine after Esteban Ocon ignored a team order to let teammate Pierre Gasly past in the final laps. Gasly was on fresher tires and closing fast, but Ocon held position, securing P10 — the team’s only point of the weekend. Team principal Bruno Famin said the matter would be “discussed internally.”
With Monaco just a week away, teams have little time to cool off after a scorching weekend at Imola — one that reminded everyone that F1 is as much about fire and fury as it is about finesse and speed.
