Lewis Hamilton’s Challenging Ferrari Debut in Chaotic Australian GP
Lewis Hamilton’s highly anticipated debut with Ferrari at the Australian Grand Prix proved to be a baptism by fire, as the seven-time world champion finished a challenging tenth in a wet and chaotic race. The Albert Park circuit witnessed constantly changing weather conditions and multiple safety car periods, throwing a curveball at strategic decisions. While Hamilton expressed gratitude for simply finishing his first race in red, his post-race comments revealed the difficulties faced adapting to his new machinery and team environment.
“Deep End” Experience and Car Handling Struggles
Reflecting on the dramatic Melbourne opener, Hamilton admitted feeling like he was thrown into the “deep, deep end”. He elaborated that everything felt new, from driving the Ferrari in the rain for the first time to understanding the power unit and steering functions. Hamilton also noted struggling with the car’s handling early on, describing it as “snappy” over the radio to his new race engineer, Riccardo Adami. This highlights the initial phase of adjustment for a driver accustomed to a different car and its nuances.
Strategic Tyre Gamble and Communication Hiccups
A pivotal moment in Hamilton’s race came in the closing stages when rain returned. Ferrari opted to keep both Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc out on dry tyres initially, a gamble that ultimately didn’t pay off as the rain intensified. Hamilton voiced his frustration over the radio, stating, “We missed a big opportunity there”, indicating a belief that an earlier switch to intermediate wet tyres was warranted. He explained that he was informed it would only be a “short shower,” leading to the decision to stay out, only for more significant rain to arrive unexpectedly. This suggests a potential miscommunication or misjudgment regarding the weather forecast from the pit wall.
The race also marked the beginning of Hamilton’s collaboration with Adami, following a long and successful partnership with Peter Bonnington at Mercedes. The challenging conditions and strategic calls led to some tension and instances where Hamilton requested less information over the radio, preferring to focus on driving and learn the car himself. While Hamilton acknowledged that Adami “did a really good job” under the circumstances, both driver and engineer recognize that their communication will improve with more experience working together. Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur echoed this sentiment, stating that communication between the pit wall and the car needs improvement and will evolve as the team learns from this first race together.
Looking Ahead: Adaptation and Improvement
Despite the challenging debut, Hamilton remained pragmatic, stating, “It wasn’t great, but we keep pushing” in a post-race radio message to Adami. He also mentioned plans to make setup changes to the car for the next race, indicating a proactive approach to finding more confidence and performance in the SF-25. While his first race with Ferrari didn’t yield the desired result, it provided valuable data and insights for both Hamilton and the team to build upon as the 2025 Formula 1 season progresses. Lando Norris ultimately secured victory in the Australian Grand Prix, underscoring the unpredictable nature of the season opener.