Lewis Hamilton Thrilling Overtake Ignites Imola Crowd

Lewis Hamilton thrilled the Imola crowd by executing a spectacular overtake on Sergio Perez, igniting immense excitement among the fans. Despite facing challenges throughout the Emilia Romagna GP weekend and missing the Q3 cut, Perez struggled to secure a strong points-scoring position on a track known for limited overtaking opportunities. Hamilton’s overtake on Perez occurred as the latter attempted to extend his stint on the hard tires. Eventually, Hamilton made a bold move around the outside into Tamburello, much to the delight of the crowd.

Hamilton believes the rarity of witnessing a Red Bull being overtaken contributed to the overwhelming popularity of the maneuver. The Imola overtake, his last before joining Ferrari in 2025, remains etched in Hamilton’s memory, exciting Italian fans. Acknowledging the enthusiastic response from the crowd, Hamilton expressed his gratitude, describing the experience as surreal. He anticipates that next year will be an incredible spectacle, given the anticipation surrounding his move to Ferrari.

Before transitioning to Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton remains focused on completing his final season with Mercedes. However, both he and the team face a challenging task. Despite Mercedes’ W15 upgrades at Imola, they couldn’t catch Max Verstappen’s dominant Red Bull, nor the McLaren and Ferrari. The development battle in the 2024 F1 season has intensified with all four teams taking their initial shots.

Hamilton’s race result at Imola was as expected, securing solid points but falling short of their desired position. He acknowledges that the other teams are currently ahead, with McLaren’s upgrade proving particularly formidable. Hamilton finished P6 with his teammate George Russell following closely in P7.

On the other hand, Perez had to settle for P8, crossing the finish line several seconds behind Russell. He voiced frustration over Imola’s tight layout, deeming it unfit for modern F1 racing, citing challenges in overtaking due to DRS limitations and tire requirements.

Unfortunately for Perez, this result cost him his P2 position in the Drivers’ Championship, as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc now holds a six-point advantage over him.