Hamilton Hails Ferrari Comeback Amid Kardashian Spectacle
Lewis Hamilton has finally addressed his relationship with American reality television star Kim Kardashian, following a commanding second-place finish for Ferrari at the Monaco Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion celebrated his third podium of the season by blowing a kiss towards his partner from the iconic circuit's rostrum.
For the pragmatic British driver, the focus remains firmly on the track. Hamilton described the feeling of having Kardashian's support as 'amazing', but his words carried the weight of a man more relieved by his team's technical progress than the celebrity fanfare surrounding his personal life. He inherited second place after Max Verstappen suffered an engine failure on the start line, steering his Ferrari through treacherous conditions to secure a hard-fought result.
A Return to Form for the British Champion
Hamilton claimed his second consecutive runner-up spot, finishing behind only championship leader Kimi Antonelli, securing his third podium appearance of the campaign. It was a result achieved with Kardashian present, who was attending a Formula 1 race for the first time since the pair began their relationship over the winter months.
Kardashian was on the grid prior to the Grand Prix and observed the racing from the balcony overlooking the Ferrari garage with her sister Khloe. She later made her way down to join Ferrari personnel beneath the podium to witness her boyfriend spray the traditional champagne.
Hamilton has historically kept his private life out of the F1 paddock, despite the couple being photographed together on numerous occasions in recent months, including visits to the Coachella music festival and various romantic breaks. On Sunday, however, he broke his silence.
It's amazing to have her come this weekend and to have that support. It's amazing to have good people around you, good people supporting you, and she does that for me every day.
The Paddock Spectacle and a Snub for British Broadcasting
Kardashian's presence in the Principality certainly turned heads, with crowds jostling to snap pictures as she made her way around the paddock. Yet her visit was not without controversy. During the traditional pre-race grid walk, her security team waved away Sky Sports pundit Martin Brundle as he attempted a courteous introduction. The dismissive treatment of a respected British broadcasting figure did not sit well with the paddock's traditional sensibilities.
The British champion was far more animated when discussing his team's mechanical resurrection. After a dismal previous season, Hamilton praised the resilience of his Ferrari mechanics, noting the significant progress made since he first joined the team.
I think we've been progressing over the last few months. We can't quite keep up with [Mercedes] just yet, and it's probably going to take a lot of work to get to their level, but to get another second place is such a great feeling. Especially in Monaco, under the trickiest conditions, it was the hardest conditions out there.
Hamilton added: I'm very, very thankful to my team because, coming from such a horrendous year last year, I'm finally in a position where I'm reigniting the passion and the belief they had in me when I first joined. After a really big slump last year, to come back up, it's great to see the fight in them. They've done a fantastic job. We've got a lot of work to try to close that gap, though.