Hamilton’s Ferrari Debut Falters Amid Strategic Missteps in Australia
Lewis Hamilton had high hopes of making a strong impression in his first race with Ferrari at the Australian Grand Prix, but his debut for the Maranello-based team did not unfold as expected.
Anticipation was high as the seven-time world champion prepared to compete in his first race for Ferrari. Ahead of the event, Lando Norris had suggested that Ferrari might surprise the field, and early signs in practice sessions seemed to support that prediction.
Before the race weekend, analysts believed Ferrari had an advantage over McLaren in qualifying pace, but McLaren appeared stronger over longer stints. Ferrari remained optimistic about their chances, especially heading into Saturday’s qualifying session.
However, their pace unexpectedly disappeared when it mattered most. Both Hamilton and his teammate Charles Leclerc struggled in qualifying, managing only to secure spots on the fourth row of the grid.
During the race, Hamilton found himself unable to pass the Williams of Alex Albon for much of the contest. A safety car deployment following an incident involving Fernando Alonso then set the stage for a dramatic turn of events. As class three rain hit Albert Park, conditions changed rapidly, providing Ferrari with an opportunity to capitalize.
McLaren drivers Norris and Oscar Piastri both struggled in the wet conditions, with Piastri spinning off into the grass, ending his hopes of fighting for victory. Many teams chose to pit their drivers for intermediate tires, adjusting to the rain.
Max Verstappen opted to switch tires a lap after the McLaren drivers, while Ferrari took a different approach, choosing to keep both Hamilton and Leclerc on the track with dry tires. At one stage, Hamilton led the race, with Leclerc close behind, as the team gambled on the changing conditions.
However, this strategy did not pay off. As the rain persisted, the conditions worsened, and Ferrari was forced to call both drivers into the pits for intermediates after Liam Lawson and Gabriel Bortoleto triggered another safety car period. By that time, the damage had been done, and Hamilton and Leclerc had dropped down the order to eighth and ninth, respectively.
Following the race, Hamilton expressed his disappointment, stating that Ferrari had not provided him with enough warning about the worsening weather. Meanwhile, former F1 driver René Arnoux shared his analysis of the situation, describing Ferrari as being in “crisis” during the race’s tricky wet conditions.
“Things went badly until the end,” Arnoux remarked. “Not only in the race but also in Saturday’s practice sessions, we were dominated by McLaren and Verstappen. We found ourselves in a difficult position on the grid.
“The first Grand Prix is always exciting because it reveals where each team stands. Unfortunately, we struggled when the track became wet, while our competitors thrived. The two McLarens surged ahead like lightning.”
As the race progressed, Hamilton lost track position to Leclerc on the final restart before being overtaken by Piastri with an impressive move on the outside of Turn 11. The Brit ultimately finished in 10th place, securing just one point in his Ferrari debut.
Had Ferrari opted to pit their drivers earlier, they could have potentially earned significantly more points. Instead, they found themselves trailing behind Sauber in the Constructors’ Championship following the season opener in Melbourne.
Constructors’ Championship Standings After the Australian Grand Prix
One key issue that emerged during the race was the communication between Hamilton and his race engineer, Riccardo Adami. On several occasions, Hamilton was heard on the radio instructing Adami to “leave it” and refrain from providing too much information during the race. This suggests that adjustments will need to be made to their working relationship as the season progresses.
At 40 years old, Hamilton still faces a learning curve at Ferrari. Arnoux believes that his underwhelming debut may have taken a toll on his enthusiasm, though he acknowledged the challenges of transitioning to a new team.
“It’s always difficult to switch teams, especially now that private testing is extremely limited,” Arnoux explained. “Apart from two or three days of testing, there isn’t much time to familiarize yourself with the car before the season begins.
“When Hamilton arrived in Melbourne, he still didn’t fully know the car, and then he had to experience it under very tricky wet conditions.
“After the race, he seemed to lose a bit of enthusiasm, which is understandable. However, we need to wait four or five races to truly assess whether the car is competitive. From what I saw yesterday, McLaren looked extremely fast.”
Ferrari will now look ahead to the next rounds of the championship, hoping to refine their strategies and improve communication within the team. Hamilton, meanwhile, will be aiming for a stronger result in the coming races as he continues to adapt to life with the Scuderia.