Lewis Hamilton says his Ferrari debut within the Australian GP ‘went so much worse’ than he anticipated

Lewis Hamilton admitted his Ferrari debut “went so much worse” than he had anticipated after the seven-time world champion completed tenth within the Australian Grand Prix.

Following his blockbuster change to Ferrari after 12 years with Mercedes, Hamilton endured a troublesome weekend in Melbourne as he certified eighth earlier than claiming the ultimate level in Sunday’s chaotic race.

The 40-year-old Brit was left annoyed at a missed alternative as Ferrari pushed a technique gamble too far, with a choice to remain out on slick tyres within the rain first placing Hamilton in podium competition earlier than leaving him combating for a factors end.

“It was very difficult and went so much worse than I assumed it will go,” Hamilton informed Sky Sports activities F1. “The automotive was actually, actually laborious to drive as we speak.

“For me, I am simply grateful I stored it out of the wall as a result of that is the place it needed to go more often than not.

“Rather a lot to take from it and simply getting acclimatised with the brand new energy unit within the moist circumstances.

“The settings it requires are totally different, and a distinct means of driving and a distinct set-up on the steering wheel.”

Hamilton had struggled to make progress from eighth as he remained caught behind the Williams of Alex Albon in a race that started within the moist with the sphere on intermediate tyres, earlier than one other late downpour created a dramatic finale.

With these nonetheless within the race having switched to slick tyres 10 laps earlier, the downpour noticed chief – and eventual race winner – Lando Norris nearly go off observe and instantly come into the pits for one more set of intermediates. His team-mate Oscar Piastri spun off from second.

Many of the front-runners pitted however Hamilton, who had simply gone previous his team-mate Charles Leclerc after the Monegasque spun, stayed out behind Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda, with Leclerc additionally persevering with behind him.

With Hamilton doing an excellent job of navigating the treacherous circumstances, the choice to remain out appeared to have improved his prospects.

Nevertheless, with the rain getting heavier, Ferrari didn’t observe within the footsteps of Crimson Bull, who pitted Verstappen two laps after Norris, which maintained his place behind the chief.

Liam Lawson crashed his Crimson Bull to set off a Security Automobile, however even with the tempo slowed, Ferrari acknowledged their error and pitted each Hamilton and Leclerc from the result in forestall what would have been an inevitable incident from occurring.

Hamilton was handed by Leclerc and the recovering Piastri within the closing levels, both facet of gaining a spot by overtaking Pierre Gasly, which meant he completed tenth.

“I frolicked so long as I might, received within the lead at one level,” Hamilton stated.

“Simply the steerage with how far more rain was coming, was lacking there, so I feel we missed out.

“We tried to however the info I received was it will be a brief bathe, actual fast. On the time, it was solely on the final nook so to me I assumed ‘the remainder of the observe was dry, I can hold this on observe if that is all that is coming’, then extra got here.”

Hamilton assured of enhancing radio communication

The dearth of readability over the incoming climate was a part of a wider wrestle Hamilton endured speaking along with his new race engineer Riccardo Adami.

Hamilton repeatedly requested Adami to “go away him to it”, or stated phrases to comparable impact, because the Italian tried to supply him with info that he appeared to consider would assist his quest to go Albon.

Regardless of his clear frustration at occasions through the race, Hamilton praised Adami after the race.

He informed reporters: “I feel Riccardo did a very good job. We’re studying about one another little by little.

“After this we’ll obtain, we’ll undergo all of the feedback – issues I stated and vice versa.

“Typically, I am not one which likes plenty of info in-race, except I ask for it. He did his finest as we speak and we’ll transfer ahead.”

Ferrari crew principal Fred Vasseur admitted that communications weren’t “clear” however insisted the Italian squad would be taught from their first racing expertise with Hamilton.

Vasseur stated: “It is the primary race, the primary time that we have now to speak between the pit wall and the automotive.

“I assumed that we will do a greater job and to know one another a bit extra. For positive it was not a clear one in any respect, however the technique was troublesome.

“We have to discover a higher strategy to talk between the automotive and the pit wall, however we are going to be taught from race one and it is not a problem.”

The F1 circus heads straight to Shanghai this week for the primary Dash weekend of the season on the Chinese language GP, with protection beginning on Friday dwell on Sky Sports activities F1. Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – No contract, cancel anytime