Lewis Hamilton matches Senna's record with podium at Monaco
Lewis Hamilton has reached a monumental milestone, equalling Ayrton Senna's record of eight podium finishes at the Monaco Grand Prix. It wasn't the victory, as he finished P2 behind a dominant Kimi Antonelli, but for the Ferrari driver, it was a result earned in the most brutal of circumstances. The challenge was clear: Ferrari still lacks the raw pace to keep up with the current Mercedes machine.
Everything changed before the lights even went out when Max Verstappen stalled on the grid. Hamilton, starting third, instantly moved into second. While Antonelli built an unassailable lead, Hamilton fought to keep his Ferrari ahead of team-mate Charles Leclerc. Despite a five-second pit lane speeding penalty, the deployment of a Safety Car for Lance Stroll’s damaged Aston Martin proved to be his salvation, allowing him to serve the penalty and defend his position.
It was a punishing 78 laps. Hamilton battled severe tyre degradation and overheating issues throughout his opening stint, noting that the car desperately needs more downforce to truly compete. Even with the struggles, the result pushed him ahead of George Russell in the Drivers' standings. It was an uncomfortable, grinding drive, but as Hamilton put it, he will "definitely take it."
