Lewis Hamilton’s Wet-Weather Brilliance Is Fading as Lance Stroll Emerges as an Unsung Rain Specialist
Lewis Hamilton secured consecutive Sprint podiums with a third-place finish in Miami, offering a rare highlight in what has otherwise been a frustrating start to his debut Ferrari season. Despite his efforts, he remains without a Grand Prix podium in 2025, with his strongest performances so far coming in the shorter Sprint format.
At the Miami Sprint, the seven-time F1 world champion demonstrated his experience with a bold strategic move, switching from intermediate tyres to slicks just at the right moment. Ferrari had not initially intended to pit him so early, nor to fit softs, but Hamilton overruled the team and opted for the faster compound. Starting from seventh, he climbed up the order and crossed the line behind only the two McLarens. The result brought a rare moment of satisfaction for the 40-year-old, who has had little to celebrate this season.
Yet beneath the surface of that podium finish lies a more concerning trend. Before his pivotal pit stop, Lewis Hamilton was visibly struggling to keep pace with the Mercedes duo ahead and was even forced to defend from the Williams of Alex Albon—something that would have seemed improbable just a few years ago.
Ferrari Struggles Continue as Lewis Hamilton Loses Edge in Rain-Soaked Conditions
Once known as the undisputed rain master of Formula 1, Hamilton’s performance in wet conditions appears to be in decline. During Mercedes’ peak in 2016, team boss Toto Wolff had described him as “unstoppable” when the track was soaked. Legendary drives such as his 2008 Silverstone win—where he finished over a minute ahead of the field—and his title-clinching performance in the wet at Turkey in 2020 cemented his reputation.
However, recent showings tell a different story. At the rain-hit 2023 São Paulo Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton was knocked out in Q1 and could only climb to 10th by the finish. And in Australia this season, during his wet-weather Ferrari debut, he failed to move past Alex Albon and Yuki Tsunoda during the early laps and ultimately dropped to 10th by the flag.
While his Miami Sprint result might suggest otherwise, the podium owed more to Hamilton’s strategic acumen than any commanding pace on intermediates. In fact, he only looked competitive after switching to slicks, underlining his discomfort with the SF-25 in slippery conditions.
Of course, Lewis Hamilton hasn’t had a front-running car under him lately, and that certainly plays a role. But rain has traditionally been the ultimate equaliser in Formula 1—just ask Alpine, who took a shock double podium in São Paulo last year. The Briton, by contrast, no longer looks like the rain magician he once was.
Lance Stroll Quietly Becomes One of F1’s Most Reliable Wet-Weather Drivers
While Lewis Hamilton’s form has dipped in tricky conditions, one driver who has stepped up in the rain is Lance Stroll. The Aston Martin driver is rarely credited for his performances, but he has consistently impressed on wet tracks.
Lance Stroll, who earned his maiden F1 pole position in the wet, has shown renewed confidence this season on intermediate tyres. He rose from 13th to sixth in chaotic conditions at Melbourne—while teammate Fernando Alonso crashed out—and claimed a superb fifth-place finish in the Miami Sprint. Between those two races alone, he scored nine of Aston Martin’s 14 points this year.
His ability to extract performance when visibility is low and grip is uncertain deserves recognition. Few on the grid have handled wet conditions better than Stroll so far this season—a surprise given the scrutiny he often faces.
The Briton’s legacy as one of the greatest wet-weather drivers remains intact, but the signs suggest that his “superpower” in the rain may be fading. With other drivers like Stroll quietly mastering the conditions, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion will need to rediscover his feel in the wet if he wants to reassert his authority in this historically equalising arena.
May 11, 2025
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