Hamilton struggles for confidence with new Ferrari after tricky Melbourne qualifying

Melbourne - Lewis Hamilton admits he is struggling to gain confidence in his new Ferrari car after qualifying eighth for the Australian Grand Prix.

Hamilton moved from Mercedes to Ferrari this winter and completed his first competitive session as a Ferrari driver in Melbourne. He finished 0.218 seconds behind teammate Charles Leclerc, who qualified seventh, and 0.877 seconds off Lando Norris’s McLaren, which took pole position.

Hamilton described his debut weekend as a "big learning curve" and noted progress is slower than expected despite preseason testing.

"I thought I was further along, but in P1 [first practice], I realized I still have a way to go," Hamilton confessed. He relies heavily on his engineers, a shift from his time at Mercedes. "I can't say, 'this setting, this setting,' like before.”

Hamilton struggled in high-speed corners at Albert Park and contrasted his performance with Leclerc: "Charles had it from the get-go. It's been slower for me to build confidence."

Despite the challenges, Hamilton remains optimistic. "Being close to Charles in my first qualifying session isn't bad. We'll work on finding pace."

Leclerc also expressed disappointment: "We struggled with car balance and pace today."

With rain expected on Sunday, Hamilton is preparing for another challenge. "I've never driven the car in the wet. I need to study tonight," he said, highlighting unfamiliarity with the car's wet settings and brakes.

Hamilton’s determination to master the Ferrari remains strong as he aims to build confidence and performance in future races.

Up Next

• FP3: Piastri leads Russell and Verstappen in final practice at the Australian Grand Prix amid Bearman's struggles
• McLaren's Norris and Piastri set clear boundaries ahead of Australian GP

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