‘Tons of positives’ for Hamilton, Ferrari

LEWIS Hamilton was buzzing after his first Formula One race in Italy for Ferrari went from Saturday devastation to Sunday delight.

- 

Ferrari’s worst qualifying performance in seven races this season, with Charles Leclerc 11th and Hamilton 12th, was branded a “disaster” by the Italian media — but the fans were cheering again a day later at Imola.

Hamilton finished a season’s best fourth, while Leclerc was an unhappy sixth, still a considerable improvement on where he started.

It was the first time since he joined from Mercedes in January that seven-time world champion Hamilton had beaten his teammate at Ferrari, apart from winning the sprint race in Shanghai.

“China was really great, but I would say this one was better,” the Briton told reporters.

“I’ve always loved when you’re fighting from further back and coming through. That’s how I started off as a kid. It’s such a better feeling than starting first and finishing first.