Hamilton hails ‘bittersweet’ comeback podium in Malaysia

Lewis Hamilton described his third-place podium finish in Sepang as "bittersweet" following a dramatic recovery drive for Ferrari. Starting second on the grid, the Briton fell to 17th and trailed the leaders by a full minute after starting on soft slick tires in damp, mixed conditions. Despite the severe early setback, Hamilton navigated his way back through the field to secure P3 behind race winner Max Verstappen and runner-up Kimi Antonelli.

Hamilton explained that choosing soft tires initially felt like a mistake that might end his race, but he opted to gamble and remain on the compound as conditions improved. Reflecting on the result, the seven-time World Champion expressed gratitude for recovering to third while lamenting the missed opportunity for a stronger finish, noting growing comfort and strong teamwork with Ferrari across the race weekend.