Lewis Hamilton is hopeful that an upgraded floor will enable Ferrari to make advancements at the Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend. The seven-time world champion experienced a challenging start to his first season with the Italian team, a team that has so far struggled to meet their pre-season expectations as title contenders.
Though Hamilton won the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint, his performance in full race distances during the initial rounds has been disappointing. His best result so far has been a seventh place in Japan, with a disqualification in China and a tenth place in Australia. Hamilton told Sky Sports F1, “We’ve got an upgrade this weekend, so I’m excited that hopefully, we should have a bit more downforce.” He added that he’s not facing major issues but hopes the team can improve its overall pace this weekend.
The Bahrain International Circuit is the site of Formula 1’s return, where pre-season testing took place, and Hamilton is optimistic this familiar setting can boost Ferrari’s performance. “I’ve done quite a bit of driving since the test that we had here,” he said. “I should be a lot more comfortable in the car than I was during testing.”
Despite his optimism, Hamilton is cautious not to expect these new parts to place Ferrari on par with leading teams such as McLaren just yet. While Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri each clinched a victory in the first two races, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen upset McLaren in Japan, despite a perceived performance deficit.
Hamilton has noted the standout performances of his former team, Mercedes, since his departure after 12 years. They’ve had a better start than Ferrari this season. “We’re trying to figure out how to catch McLaren,” Hamilton stated. He recognized McLaren’s impressive Constructors’ Championship win last year and their strong start this season alongside other top teams.
“I think we’ve learned a lot over the past few races,” Hamilton remarked. “This weekend is hopefully a step forward for us. It’s not necessarily closing the gap, but we hope to move toward closing it.” He emphasizes the focus on extracting more from the car as a step toward achieving improved results.
With Formula 1’s triple-header continuing at the Bahrain Grand Prix, the race airs live on Sky Sports F1. The event promises to be crucial for Ferrari as they strive to bridge the gap between them and leading teams.
