Lewis Hamilton admitted it’s been challenging for him to adapt to Ferrari after a low-key performance in his first qualifying outing for the team at the Australian Grand Prix. Despite struggling to be in the mix for the front row, the seven-time World Champion expressed optimism about the challenge of learning the intricacies of the Italian team in a competitive setting.
Hamilton finished seventh and eighth behind drivers from midfield teams Racing Bulls and Williams, with teammate Charles Leclerc almost seven-tenths away from pole position time. The Ferrari duo struggled to keep up with frontrunners, leaving them with small margins in qualifying.
In an interview after qualifying, Hamilton said, “It doesn’t feel natural, it’s been challenging.” He attributed the difficulties to the numerous set-up changes and new tools he was trying to understand. Despite this, Hamilton felt good about his performance, acknowledging that there is still room for improvement.
The low-key performance from Ferrari in qualifying contrasts with Leclerc’s struggles earlier in the day, who suffered errors that negatively affected his lap times. The team had expected to be on the back foot but seemed to have underestimated the pace of their car.
Hamilton will look to fine-tune his setup and learn more about the Ferrari car as he continues in the Australian Grand Prix weekend.
Source: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/i-am-still-learning-this-car-hamilton-admits-adapting-to-ferrari-doesnt-feel.2hel8uPTeO65cXuhYgtrOV