Lewis Hamilton optimistic after Bahrain GP: ‘I’ve got the Ferrari figured out’

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

Lewis Hamilton has expressed optimism after finishing fifth in the Bahrain Grand Prix, stating that he believes he has "figured out" his "alien" Ferrari. The seven-time world champion managed to recover from a disappointing qualifying session, gaining four places in the race, which included a spectacular overtake on former rival Max Verstappen.

Hamilton, who has faced a challenging start to his tenure with Ferrari despite a sprint race win in China, discussed the notable differences between his current ride and the Mercedes in which he claimed six of his seven world titles.

"It really does feel so alien," Hamilton said. "You know, sometimes I think we all get stuck in our ways, very stuck, and I need to keep driving the way I've been driving and just make the car come to me. So I'm adjusting myself to the car and also just the few little tools they use, it drives so much differently."

Finishing just behind his Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc, Hamilton admitted to Sky Sports that he still has work to do to match Leclerc's performance. "I think I've figured out how the car likes to drive so hopefully if I can apply that next week, I can qualify better and have a much better weekend," Hamilton added. "I've got to make it easier for myself, I'm doing it all the hard way at the moment, so I will try next week to start in a better place and not deviate from that too much."

Hamilton elaborated on his learning curve with the Ferrari to the written media. "I mean, just one example is this week, I've never used engine braking before," he said. "The past 12 years, never used engine braking -- but here we use a lot. The brakes are just so much different to what I had in the past. In the last stint, I also had to use the rears to turn the car, and other times you have to put more weight on the front, so it's probably a bigger balance window than I'm used to as well."

Reflecting on his performance, Hamilton noted, "The middle stint felt really aligned with the car, the balance was in a spot, and my driving style seemed to be working in that moment. I've learned a lot from today, and this weekend actually a lot, probably more than all the other weekends."

Currently, Hamilton sits seventh in the drivers' standings as he looks ahead to next weekend's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah, hopeful that his newfound understanding of the Ferrari will yield even better results.

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