An anonymous debut
Lewis Hamilton had made it clear even before Australia that he would need a period of adaptation to perform fully at the wheel of the Ferrari. After twelve years with Mercedes, the seven-time world champion had only a few days of testing to familiarize himself with a completely different car and new procedures.
The rain-soaked Grand Prix further amplified these challenges. Lewis Hamilton was unable to even attempt an overtaking move on Alexander Albon despite following him for a long time, ultimately finishing in a lackluster tenth place.
The Daily Mail is ruthless
These mitigating factors were not enough for the Daily Mail, which did not hold back in criticizing the British champion: “Lewis Hamilton’s adventure at Ferrari already has the flavor of a farewell tour. He is determined to enjoy the journey, even if it proves as bumpy as this weekend. He finished tenth out of fourteen survivors in this rainy race, admitted to lacking confidence in himself, and interacted with his new race engineer, Riccardo Adami, as if they had never met.”
Journalist Jonathan McEvoy was equally harsh: “After qualifying eighth, one position behind teammate Charles Leclerc, he was grinning from ear to ear as if he had won the lottery. And in a way, he did pick the right numbers: £60 million a year. That helps smooth things over—just like wearing the red he has dreamed of all his life.”
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