Hamilton says ‘heart sank’ as tyre gamble backfired before stunning Sepang recovery

Lewis Hamilton expressed a mix of emotions after the Bahrain Grand Prix, which saw him starting second on the grid but dropping to 18th due to a tyre gamble gone wrong before securing a third-place finish in a rain-soaked race on Sunday. The race was delayed by over 90 minutes due to rain, and Hamilton was among the few drivers who switched from intermediate tyres to slicks on a drying track.

Initially struggling, he held onto his position as the track dried, with safety cars providing assistance. Hamilton later overtaken Red Bull's Isaac Hadjar to clinch a podium behind Max Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli. Reflecting on his decision, Hamilton admitted his heart sank when he realized the team's strategy was proving problematic.

Despite the challenging race, Hamilton praised the team's pit stops and his own performance, expressing gratitude for securing a podium finish.