Lewis Hamilton shared an update on his ongoing transition since joining Ferrari at the start of the year, marking a new chapter after a 12-year tenure with Mercedes in Formula 1. Despite securing a sprint race win in China, Hamilton has yet to reach the podium in a grand prix this season and has openly discussed the challenges he’s encountered while adjusting to Ferrari’s power unit and team environment.
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur acknowledged that both he and Hamilton likely underestimated how difficult this change would be for the seven-time champion. Hamilton himself admitted that confidence, particularly with braking, has not yet fully returned but emphasized that steady progress is underway.
Challenges with Car Performance at Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Following the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Hamilton explained the hurdles he still faces in pushing the car aggressively, especially when braking. He noted variability in his confidence depending on the car setup.
I think there’s still some improvements to make in terms of how aggressive I can be. The car has been quite snappy, so still not 100% confident under braking when I’m attacking on the brakes. In the last race, I was, but in this race, didn’t feel it so much with the setup that we ended up having,
Hamilton said.
He acknowledged progress despite the lack of race results recently, expressing belief in the team’s ability to deliver strong performances soon.
It’s kind of crazy, because we’ve been progressing yet we’ve not had results, really in the last few races. But there’s not like no progress so I think we’re able to do a good weekend and a good result.
Azerbaijan Race Outcome and Weekend Summary
Hamilton finished eighth in Baku after starting 12th, a result below expectations for the 40-year-old driver. During the second practice session, both Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc showed promise by finishing first and second in timing, indicating competitiveness for Ferrari. However, misfortune struck Leclerc with a crash during qualifying, while Hamilton failed to progress beyond Q2.
The qualifying setbacks contributed to the team ending the race with eighth and ninth positions rather than a stronger finish.
Yeah, it was a disappointing result, as I mentioned yesterday, to feeling so optimistic,
Hamilton told Sky Sports F1. He described his positive feelings after practice but noted the race pace did not match rivals.
I think through practice after P2, honestly, I felt so good in the car and I think ultimately in the wrong direction with the car. But our ultimate pace in the race was just not on par with the guys up ahead of us.
Hamilton also praised Williams for their performance at the event, recognizing their impressive result.
But qualifying clearly is so important if you look at where the Williams was. They did a great job, congratulations to them. What an amazing result for us to give everything.
On moving up from 12th to eighth, Hamilton expressed indifference toward the final position, focusing instead on progress.
I mean I’m happy I moved forwards from 12th but couldn’t really care less for that position.
Implications for Hamilton and Ferrari Going Forward
Hamilton’s comments reveal a cautious optimism amid current frustrations, highlighting ongoing adaptation to Ferrari’s car dynamics and power unit. The team’s challenges with qualifying and race pace indicate that further development and adjustments are needed for stronger results.
As the season progresses, Hamilton’s determination to master braking confidence and extract performance improvements will be critical for Ferrari’s competitiveness. The experience from races such as Azerbaijan underscores both the potential and the obstacles in Hamilton’s first year with Ferrari, suggesting focused efforts ahead to translate progress into consistent podium finishes.
