Fifth in Bahrain, Hamilton thinks he "understood" his car

Smiles and optimism have returned to the face of Lewis Hamilton following the Bahrain Grand Prix. Disappointed by his ninth place in qualifying on Saturday, the Briton looked downcast, " I'm just slow," he noted in reaction to his difficulties on a fast lap at the wheel of his Ferrari. " For the race, II'm aiming for a top 5," he had declared, without much conviction.

No sooner said than done, the Englishman finished fifth in the race, behind his teammate Charles Leclerc who had started second. The seven-time world champion, who made some daring overtaking moves, seemed to have confidence in his car and maximized a welcome result for the Scuderia.

« Today was different from yesterday, we had a much better set-up for the race, confided the former pilot Mercedes, grateful for the work of his new team. The team had a wonderful Sunday with the pit stops and the strategy." While ninth on the grid was the Briton's worst qualifying in red, fifth at the finish is his best result for the Scuderia (excluding Sprint).

Bad habits at Hamilton

« My habits get me into trouble, Lewis Hamilton noted at the microphone of Sky Sports to explain his delicate adaptation to his new car. I've driven with the same team for so long, with a particular style and way of driving. Joining a new team requires such a different way of driving. I use engine braking on the Ferrari, which I've never done in previous years. The brakes are very different here and I have to get used to all that, but little by little, these things are integrating into my head."

So, the Briton is not yet 100% behind the wheel of his SF-25 and his habits die hard. Nevertheless, the Stevenage native believes he has " including » his single-seater during the 57 laps of the Bahrain GP: « I learned a lot today and I think I understood how the car behaves. Next week, if I manage to qualify in a better position, I can have a much better weekend."

In the race, Lewis Hamilton seems to have found his rhythm, and his work must now focus on qualifying, which is costing him dearly. In his career, the Briton has achieved 104 pole positions, as... Red Bull. Because yes, the Englishman's numbers are so disconcerting that he shouldn't be compared to drivers but to entire teams. So, there's no doubt that he will, sooner or later, manage to perform in red on Saturdays.

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