Hamilton happy to be 'so close to Leclerc' but disappointed with Ferrari's performance

A bittersweet 8th place for Lewis Hamilton in Melbourne. The Briton took part in his first qualifying session with Ferrari this Saturday, for the Australian Grand Prix. Unfortunately, the Team did not really live up to the (high) expectations placed on it: the Italian team lacked pace in Q3 and its two drivers could not do better than the fourth row on the starting grid. Still in the learning phase within his new team, the seven-time world champion was not ridiculous in the face of Charles Leclerc (0″218 gap in Q3 in favor of the Monegasque), despite a spin without impact in Q2.

Lewis Hamilton is facing the wrong way after having a spin! 😦#F1 #AusGP pic.twitter.com/5Ig5WgATKl

— Formula 1 (@F1) March 15, 2025

In the mixed zone, Lewis Hamilton appeared smiling in front of the media, although disappointed not to have qualified higher.  "We're not where we want to be, so it's definitely disappointing for us. I'm sure people will be disappointed that the team isn't higher [on the grid], said the new Ferrari driver from Viaplay. I see it as a new experience every time. For me, being so close to Charles [Leclerc] in my first qualifying session [with Ferrari], when he knows [the car] so well, I'm pretty comfortable with that. I know I still have work to do. Tomorrow will also be my first time in the wet [in this car].

A first with Ferrari in the rain for Hamilton?

And yes, Lewis Hamilton is right to clarify this detail, which isn't really one: rain is forecast for Sunday's Australian GP. In addition to it being his first Grand Prix with Ferrari, the Briton will be driving his new car in the rain for the first time. "I don't even know where the rain settings are, so I'll have to look at that and study them tonight! But I have no idea how the car will behave in the rain.", he said, laughing, at the microphone of Canal+. A new element to take into account on this very studious weekend, where Lewis Hamilton discovers a whole new way of working.

“The way we work in the engineers’ offices, the way we develop strategies, the terminology used for everything, everything is different, compares the Englishman after his 12 seasons spent at MercedesThe way they process data is different. All the tools are different, it's like you're using a different language! I've been doing this for so long and I know these things, but they tell me something different. Learning all these new tools and how to communicate with the team takes time, especially when you're on track and working with your engineer. But it's great." With the possibility of rain, will Lewis Hamilton be able to move up the order of business and score big points in his debut with Ferrari?

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