On 'tense' Antonelli's big weekend, this was Hamilton's day

Hamilton said his pole, on his 43rd start for Ferrari, was "one of the greatest feelings".

It is not the first time he has qualified fastest for Ferrari - that was when he took sprint pole at the Chinese Grand Prix last year, in only his second race for the team.

But that was followed by a difficult debut season, when he looked a shadow of his former self, and was pretty much taken to the cleaners by Leclerc.

Hamilton's record is such that his performances last year left many perplexed - not least himself. He was consistently down on himself, even saying at one low point in the summer of 2025 that he was "just useless" and suggesting Ferrari should change drivers.