In his inaugural outing as a Ferrari Formula 1 driver, Lewis Hamilton’s performance ignited a flicker of concern in the mind of former F1 driver and current Sky Sports analyst, Martin Brundle. As Hamilton initiated this new chapter of his career, his steering wheel bore the message, “the new era begins”. However, the session did not go as smoothly as he might have wished, culminating in Hamilton expressing difficulty in maneuvering his SF-25.
Hamilton’s debut with Ferrari, in the Albert Park pit lane Melbourne, was initially promising. Despite a minor hiccup, he managed to secure the seventh position in the early stages of the race. However, the optimism soon fizzled out as Hamilton struggled to sustain a top-three rank on the medium tires. His teammate Charles Leclerc, along with other competitors, began to surpass him, and a subsequent swap to soft tires did little to improve his performance.
Hamilton’s difficulties became increasingly evident as he managed only the eighth position on his flying lap and could not enhance it further. The struggle reached a climax when he reported difficulties in turning his car, eventually finishing 12th at the chequered flag. His time was 0.819s slower than Lando Norris, who held the pole position, and six-tenths down on his teammate Leclerc.
Brundle, however, focused more on Hamilton’s demeanor post-race than his performance on the track. The sight of Hamilton exiting the Ferrari garage with his helmet still on raised alarm bells for Brundle, who interpreted it as a sign of frustration. Brundle, who often took the same action during his own career, voiced his concerns about Hamilton’s state of mind.
Yet, despite the rocky start, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur seems unfazed. According to Vasseur, the objective was not to deliver a top-notch performance in a single session, but to familiarize Hamilton with the team, software, and processes. He emphasized that the transition to a new team requires adjustment and learning, which cannot be rushed.
Vasseur also pointed out the test day with the TPC a month or two ago that served as a good precursor to the race weekend. However, he admitted that nothing can quite compare to the actual experience of a race weekend.
Vasseur concluded his remarks with a strong vote of confidence in Hamilton, stating he had no doubt that the seasoned driver would adjust quickly and start delivering strong performances soon. He cited last year’s example of Carlos, who was 8th or 9th in practice but still managed to clinch the race, as evidence that practice sessions do not always reflect the final outcome.
