Blushes spared but key to Ferrari's revival is obvious

Quite the difference a day makes. The tone emanating from Ferrari on Saturday was one of total desolation; Lewis Hamilton declared himself gutted and devastated” after qualifying a mere 12th on the grid, with his teammate just one place ahead.

- KIERAN JACKSON IN IMOLA

However, come Sunday night, it was difficult to wipe the smile off Hamilton’s face in the Imola media pen.

Of course, if you’d told most of the 242,000 fans – the vast majority decked in red – present earlier in the weekend that fourth and sixth would be the finishing positions for Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, celebrations would have been scant. Hamilton’s first Ferrari race in Italy, in an upgraded car, was meant to mark a season-defining turning point. As such, no silver bullet has been found.

But it has made the road to rejuvenation all the more obvious. Blindingly, in fact. Hamilton’s stellar drive from 12th to fourth – albeit with the benefit of two well-timed safety car interludes – resulted in joyous scenes on the Rivazza hill afterwards. It was the Scuderia’s best result of the season so far.

For Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur, under immense pressure in the Italian media overnight, there was some respite. With pressure mounting, there was some space to breathe. Operation Damage Limitation had been fulfilled.

“We were able to react today and straighten out, at least in part, a weekend that could have been decidedly negative,” Vasseur said. “Our race pace was strong from start to finish. We had a good strategy and the pit stops were well executed.