Hamilton shows resilience with Ferrari in Bahrain

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

Hamilton battles through Bahrain: Signs of progress with Ferrari?

Lewis Hamilton appeared dispirited after managing only a ninth-place finish in Saturday's qualifying session at the Bahrain Grand Prix. On a track where he has secured five career victories, his best qualifying lap was 0.9 seconds slower than Oscar Piastri’s McLaren on pole and nearly 0.6 seconds behind his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, who secured second place.

The performance left Hamilton in ninth on Sunday’s grid and searching for answers. “I don't have a lot of answers for you guys, I just wasn't quick today,” he told reporters following his exit from the Ferrari. When asked if this was the lowest he had felt since joining the team at the start of the year, Hamilton admitted, “It's definitely not a good feeling, for sure.”

Four Early Races of Adjustment

Hamilton's initial races with Ferrari have been challenging to assess. From his first drive at Ferrari’s private Fiorano test track, Hamilton highlighted how different the car felt compared to the Mercedes vehicles he had driven for over a decade. This period of adjustment was anticipated by Hamilton, who often reiterated the steep challenge of switching teams so late in his career.

A shock pole position and victory in China’s sprint race provided a momentary high after a lackluster debut in Australia. However, the inconsistency continued in subsequent races, underlining the difficulty of Hamilton’s task. By Japan, Hamilton felt progress had been made, and the team had found an adjustment that could provide a tenth of a second advantage.

Qualifying troubles and race day turnaround

The Bahrain Grand Prix qualifying session proved to be particularly punishing. Hamilton’s Q1 performance saw him marginally faster than Leclerc, but in Q2 and Q3, he lost substantial time. Despite a track limits violation ruining his first Q3 lap, his second attempt was still significantly slower than Leclerc’s. Telemetry revealed Hamilton lost most of his time through slower cornering speeds compared to Leclerc, resulting in a significant gap.

However, by Sunday, Hamilton’s fortune took a positive turn. Starting from ninth, he climbed to fifth by the race’s end, with a particularly strong performance in the second stint. Ferrari’s alternative strategy of starting on medium tires allowed Hamilton to run longer before pitting. Upon re-entering the track, Hamilton set the fastest lap and overtook five cars within eight laps. This performance narrowed the gap to second-placed George Russell by 5.4 seconds before a safety car neutralized the race.

Positive signs for the future

Hamilton expressed optimism after the race, stating, “The middle stint was really ... I felt really aligned with the car, the balance finally was in a good spot and my driving style seemed to be working in that moment. So I learned a lot from today, and this weekend actually -- a lot, probably more than all the other weekends.”

Hamilton emphasized the importance of adapting his driving style to the new Ferrari setup, a challenge he has gradually been meeting. “Getting the balance right... I think what's clear is Charles starts on a setup and he stays with it all weekend, and I was a long way away from him... Just before qualifying I went close to him, but all the settings are all off and I haven't... so I've got to do a better job through the weekend.”

Team perspective and future outlook

Ferrari’s team principal Frédéric Vasseur recognized the challenges Hamilton faces in transitioning from Mercedes to Ferrari. "You won't replace 12 years of collaboration [with Mercedes] in two weeks or in two races [with Ferrari]," Vasseur commented. He appreciated Hamilton’s willingness to improve himself, stating, "I think it's good to have Lewis with this mindset to say, 'OK, I have to improve also myself and to adapt myself to the car.'”

Hamilton’s reflections and Vasseur’s comments suggest that while expectations should be tempered, there are promising signs of improvement. Hamilton noted, "I've just got to make it easier for myself—I'm doing it all the hard way at the moment... As I said, I think I've figured out how the car likes to drive, so hopefully if I can apply that next week, if I can qualify better I can have a much better weekend."

As the season progresses, Hamilton’s ability to adapt and align with his Ferrari could become a key storyline in his quest for continued success. The next race in Saudi Arabia will provide another vital test of his and Ferrari’s evolving partnership.

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