Following a fast-paced first free practice session for the Australian Grand Prix at the 5.278-kilometre Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne on Friday, where Lewis Hamilton found himself positioned lower than expected, Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur shared his thoughts on the driver’s performance.
In the post-session press conference for the Australian Grand Prix, which also marked the first practice session of the season, the French manager was asked about how long it might take Lewis Hamilton to match the pace of his teammate, Charles Leclerc. Over the course of Charles Leclerc’s seven-year Formula 1 career, the talented Monegasque driver has maintained an impressive record, having never been outpaced by a teammate, including the former world champion, Sebastian Vettel.
The seven-time Formula 1 world champion concluded the first practice session of the Australian Grand Prix in 12th place, posting a lap time of 1:18.071 and completing 20 laps. Despite the lower-than-expected result, he expressed that it was still early in the process of adjustment and emphasized that no conclusions could be made from just the first session. This marks Lewis Hamilton’s third team switch, having moved from his long-standing partnership with Mercedes.
In response to a question about Lewis Hamilton’s performance, Fred Vasseur explained that he didn’t feel the need to add anything more than what he had already said previously. Frederic Vasseur remained confident, stating that he had no doubts Lewis Hamilton would soon find his rhythm and perform at his usual high level. He reminded the media of last year when Carlos Sainz was in a similar position during free practice, only to secure a victory later in the race.
With eight pole positions and two wins at the Albert Park Circuit, Lewis Hamilton is no stranger to success in Melbourne. Now driving for Ferrari, a team with the most Australian Grand Prix wins, the question remains—can Hamilton and Ferrari collaborate to claim another victory in Australia?
Leave a Reply