Hamilton’s making positive factors adjusting his driving model to Ferrari in time for race day

Lewis Hamilton says he has spent the early a part of Method 1’s 2025 Australian Grand Prix adjusting his driving model to swimsuit the necessities of the Ferrari automotive package deal he’s presently exploring.

Within the different SF-25, Charles Leclerc ended the opening day in Melbourne on the head of the occasions, but additionally with an enormous 0.42s hole to Hamilton in FP2, with the Briton having been adrift by 0.6s in FP1 (topped by McLaren’s Lando Norris).

Chatting with F1 TV post-FP2, Hamilton mentioned his first day driving for Ferrari on an official F1 race weekend had “felt superb to get on the market and be in a Ferrari right here” after a “tremendous thrilling build-up to this week”.

“Actually, the automotive felt a lot totally different to what I’ve ever skilled coming to this monitor,” he added. “So, it took a bit of little bit of bedding in via FP1.

“FP2 is certainly a bit of higher however simply constructing. However we’re slowly constructing and getting a bit of bit quicker little by little.”

When ask to make clear what he meant about variations within the SF-25 he was feeling from the Mercedes package deal he used till 2024’s finish, Hamilton mentioned: “Simply totally different. Only a lot totally different.

“However the automotive does not really feel dangerous or something. It simply requires a special means of driving. So, [I’m] adjusting my driving model little by little, however having fun with driving.”

Hamilton’s driving model has beforehand consisted of two vital components.

One was sustaining braking stability when hitting the pedal very late that meant holding a automotive on the sting of under-rotation on nook entry, whereas he additionally places in loads of power via the entrance tyres through many tiny actions as a flip progresses – all of which mixes to depart the automotive transferring round significantly on the rear finish.

Traditionally, Hamilton had been capable of reside with this rear motion and preserve excessive cornering velocity consequently.

He had mentioned on the finish of Bahrain pre-season testing that there was “fairly a bit to return” by way of his adaptation course of from Mercedes to Ferrari, which seems to be persevering with.

Leclerc, in the meantime, makes use of a two-stage strategy in his driving model than could be described as ‘little flip, large flip’ – particularly in medium- and lower-speed corners – that helps to scale back understeer.

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Photograph by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Photos

This additionally helps with braking enter through the ultimate levels of nook strategy, however his model on the wheel is general a lot smoother than Hamilton’s.

“Actually, we did good preparation work as a result of the sensation with the automotive was good,” Leclerc mentioned of his and Ferrari’s work in Melbourne on Friday.

“There’s clearly issues that we have to enhance as at all times and I am not very pleased with the steadiness but, however we’re in a a lot better place in comparison with Bahrain testing. There’s nonetheless some efficiency to search out, however that is the identical for everyone within the paddock.

“These automobiles are fairly new for everybody. So you have to push it to know the place precisely the restrict is. Nevertheless it’s been a strong first day. Now we have to attend and see the way it goes tomorrow once we push a bit extra.”

Pictures from Australian GP – Free Apply