Lewis Hamilton’s difficulties adapting to Ferrari have sparked strong support from Carlos Sainz, who insists that criticism aimed at Hamilton is unwarranted. Sainz highlights the complexity of moving to a new team after spending ten years at Mercedes, emphasizing that such a transition is far from simple.
Hamilton’s Mixed Early Performances at Ferrari
The seven-time world champion has struggled to match his usual qualifying pace, particularly over a single lap at Ferrari. Despite these setbacks, Hamilton has demonstrated moments of promise during races, notably winning the sprint in China and mounting an impressive comeback to finish fourth in Imola.
Adapting to New Teams Requires Time, Says Sainz
Drawing from his own rookie experience at Williams, Sainz explains that drivers typically need considerable time to adapt fully to new cars and team environments. Judging Hamilton’s Ferrari tenure based on initial results alone, he argues, does not provide a fair or accurate measure of his true potential.
Overcoming Muscle Memory and Adjustment Periods
Sainz points out the difficulty involved in breaking old muscle memory formed over years with a specific team’s vehicle. Both he and Hamilton have faced natural fluctuations in performance while adjusting to their new cars, making it understandable that consistency may be lacking during this phase.
Call for Patience in Evaluating Hamilton’s Ferrari Journey
By defending Hamilton amid rising criticism, Sainz urges observers to adopt a longer-term outlook when assessing drivers during transitions. The ongoing challenges both drivers face underscore that only with time will their true capabilities and success at new teams become clear.
