Lewis Hamilton’s debut with Ferrari has been less than spectacular, as he managed only a tenth-place finish at the Australian Grand Prix.
A bold wet-weather strategy from Ferrari ultimately backfired, leaving both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at the lower end of the top 10. However, the weekend provided Hamilton with valuable track time in his new car, helping him adapt to Ferrari’s handling characteristics.
While Charles Leclerc out-qualified Hamilton and secured more points, their race pace appeared closely matched throughout the weekend. One key area where Hamilton needs improvement is his communication with new race engineer Riccardo Adami. Although this didn’t directly impact his performance in the closing laps, he was ultimately overtaken by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. Sky Sports commentator Martin Brundle believes the British driver won’t enjoy rewatching the footage, as the young Australian executed a confident and decisive pass.
Lewis Hamilton Adjusts Driving Style at Ferrari in a Way He Avoided at Mercedes
Although Hamilton remains focused on securing a record-breaking eighth drivers’ championship, immediate victories aren’t expected. At this stage, Ferrari appears to be the fourth-fastest team on the grid, with significant progress needed following the season opener.
Despite the challenges, there were promising signs in Melbourne. F1 journalist Scott Mitchell-Malm observed that Hamilton made a notable adjustment to his cornering technique—something he had previously hesitated to do during his years at Mercedes. This willingness to adapt could prove crucial as he works to maximize Ferrari’s potential in the coming races.
Scott Mitchell-Malm explained that at the left-hander where Kimi Antonelli and George Russell spun, Lewis Hamilton tended to lift earlier and slightly more than his Maranello teammate, which allowed him to achieve a better exit at turns nine and ten consistently. The Briton was seen sacrificing some entry speed into turn nine in exchange for a stronger run through turn ten and down to turn eleven.
It was also noted that Lewis Hamilton appeared to be making an adjustment in the Ferrari that he had never seemed either willing or able to make in his last few years with Mercedes. However, he still couldn’t quite replicate his teammate’s precise brake and throttle overlap.
Despite this, it was suggested that he might not need to, as there were enough indications that he could be quick in the Ferrari. The bigger uncertainty, for now, was not Hamilton’s adaptation but rather how competitive the car itself would be overall.
Peter Windsor Explains Why Lewis Hamilton’s Australian Grand Prix Was ‘Embarrassing’
Lewis Hamilton’s first race with Ferrari ended with just a single point for a 10th-place finish—a result that, on the surface, appears disappointing. However, several external factors influenced his performance in Melbourne.
Hamilton faced the challenge of driving a Ferrari in wet conditions for the first time, navigating the added pressure of debuting with a new team. Despite these circumstances, motorsport analyst Peter Windsor still deemed Hamilton’s performance “embarrassing,” suggesting that more was expected from a driver of his caliber and experience.
At one stage in the race, Lewis Hamilton briefly led after Ferrari took the risky decision to keep him on slick tires as rain began to fall. While the final result was not entirely his fault, the overall performance did little to silence critics.
Looking ahead, Ferrari typically performs well at the Japanese Grand Prix, making the next race a crucial opportunity for Hamilton to improve and showcase stronger pace in his new machinery.
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