In Melbourne, Australia, Lewis Hamilton faced challenges in his debut race with the Ferrari team, settling for a disappointing 10th place finish. The race, which was ultimately won by McLaren’s Lando Norris, saw Hamilton express his frustration over strategic errors and constant radio communications that hindered his performance.
Hamilton began in eighth position but found himself trailing behind Alex Albon of the Williams team for a significant portion of the race. On lap 46, Hamilton briefly surged to the front as competitors pitted for fresh intermediate tires. However, he disapprovingly communicated over the team radio, lamenting that “we missed a big opportunity” after traffic congestion and an ill-timed pit stop pushed him back to ninth.
Hamilton dropped an additional position to 10th during the final lap when Oscar Piastri overtook him, further dimming his outlook on the race.
“The rain always shakes things up; strategy heavily relies on timing and a bit of luck,” remarked the 40-year-old driver. “We took a risk and initially gained positions, but a late decision to switch to Intermediates cost us, leaving us struggling at the back of the top 10, trying to make up ground.”
One of the key technical struggles for Hamilton was maintaining control of his Ferrari, which indicated the necessary work ahead for the team to regain competitive pace.
“I faced difficulties with the car’s balance, but this race was crucial for understanding the vehicle in diverse weather conditions and for gaining valuable experience with the new team,” Hamilton shared.
