In Melbourne, Australia, Lewis Hamilton faced a challenging start to his journey with Ferrari after qualifying in eighth place for the upcoming Australian Grand Prix on Sunday. The British driver, who has claimed the F1 world champion title seven times, openly admitted after the qualifying session that his integration into the Ferrari team is still a work in progress. The forecasted rain for Sunday’s race, however, might offer Hamilton a chance to improve his position.
Hamilton remarked on his situation, stating, “Charles (Leclerc) certainly has more experience, but I am gradually gaining confidence with the car and figuring out how to tap into its full potential.” He added, “Our focus is now on closing the gap. The race tomorrow presents a challenge, especially since I have yet to drive this car in wet conditions, but we are determined to push hard and have a strong debut race.” The weather forecast for Melbourne indicates a mix of conditions, starting with an overcast, warm morning that is expected to cool later on, accompanied by a high likelihood of showers.
Meanwhile, Lando Norris delivered an impressive final qualifying lap to clinch pole position for the race at Melbourne’s Albert Park, marking his first pole at this venue and the tenth of his career. His teammate Oscar Piastri followed closely behind, and the Saturday event drew a record crowd of 136,347 spectators at Albert Park.
