Lewis Hamilton’s much-anticipated Ferrari debut did not go as planned. The seven-time world champion finished 10th at the Australian Grand Prix, a result he admitted was “a lot worse” than expected.
The 40-year-old Briton, who switched to Ferrari after 12 years with Mercedes, struggled with the car’s handling in wet conditions. A bold strategy call initially put him in podium contention, but as rain intensified, Ferrari’s gamble unraveled, leaving Hamilton fighting just to secure a single championship point.
“I’m just grateful I kept it out of the wall,” Hamilton told Sky Sports F1. “The car was really tough to drive today.”
A gamble that backfired
Hamilton qualified eighth and remained in the midfield for much of the race. As the rain fell, Ferrari opted to keep him on slick tyres longer than rivals, briefly pushing him into the lead. However, the worsening conditions forced an emergency pit stop, dropping him down the order.
“I hung out as long as I could and even led at one point,” Hamilton said. “But the guidance on how much rain was coming wasn’t clear, and we missed out.”
Ferrari’s decision contrasted with Red Bull’s, who called in Max Verstappen for intermediates at the right moment. Hamilton, meanwhile, was left vulnerable as grip levels plummeted. Eventually, Ferrari acknowledged their error, pitting both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc late in the race.
Frustration and adjustments
Beyond strategy missteps, Hamilton struggled with communication issues with his new race engineer, Riccardo Adami. Throughout the race, he was heard asking for less radio input, preferring to focus on driving.
Despite his frustration, Hamilton remains optimistic. “Riccardo did a really good job. We’re still learning about each other,” he said. “We’ll go through everything, and we’ll move forward.”
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur admitted there were teething issues. “It’s the first race, and communication wasn’t as clean as it should be. But we’ll improve,” he stated.
With the Chinese Grand Prix up next, Hamilton and Ferrari will be looking for a stronger performance. The start of his Ferrari era may have been rocky, but there are still 23 races left to turn things around.
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