Hamilton adjusts driving style to new Ferrari, amid 0.4s deficit to Leclerc

Lewis Hamilton says he has spent the early a part of Components 1’s 2025 Australian Grand Prix adjusting his driving fashion to go well with the necessities of the Ferrari automobile package deal he’s presently exploring.

Within the different SF-25, Charles Leclerc ended the opening day in Melbourne on the head of the occasions, but additionally with an enormous 0.42s hole to Hamilton in FP2, with the Briton having been adrift by 0.6s in FP1 (topped by McLaren’s Lando Norris).

Chatting with F1 TV post-FP2, Hamilton stated his first day driving for Ferrari on an official F1 race weekend had “felt superb to get on the market and be in a Ferrari right here” after a “tremendous thrilling build-up to this week”.

“Actually, the automobile felt a lot completely different to what I’ve ever skilled coming to this observe,” he added. “So, it took slightly little bit of bedding in by FP1.

“FP2 is certainly slightly higher however simply constructing. However we’re slowly constructing and getting slightly bit sooner little by little.”

When ask to make clear what he meant about variations within the SF-25 he was feeling from the Mercedes package deal he used till 2024’s finish, Hamilton stated: “Simply completely different. Only a lot completely different.

“However the automobile would not really feel dangerous or something. It simply requires a distinct manner of driving. So, [I’m] adjusting my driving fashion little by little, however having fun with driving.”

Hamilton’s driving fashion has beforehand consisted of two necessary parts.

One was sustaining braking stability when hitting the pedal very late that meant holding a automobile on the sting of under-rotation on nook entry, whereas he additionally places in loads of power by the entrance tyres by way of many tiny actions as a flip progresses – all of which mixes to depart the automobile transferring round significantly on the rear finish.

Traditionally, Hamilton had been in a position to stay with this rear motion and keep excessive cornering velocity consequently.

He had stated on the finish of Bahrain pre-season testing that there was “fairly a bit to come back” when it comes to his adaptation course of from Mercedes to Ferrari, which seems to be persevering with.

Leclerc, in the meantime, makes use of a two-stage strategy in his driving fashion than could be described as ‘little flip, huge flip’ – particularly in medium- and lower-speed corners – that helps to scale back understeer.

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Photograph by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Pictures

This additionally helps with braking enter in the course of the remaining levels of nook strategy, however his fashion on the wheel is general a lot smoother than Hamilton’s.

“Actually, we did good preparation work as a result of the sensation with the automobile was good,” Leclerc stated of his and Ferrari’s work in Melbourne on Friday.

“There’s clearly issues that we have to enhance as at all times and I am not very pleased with the stability but, however we’re in a significantly better place in comparison with Bahrain testing. There’s nonetheless some efficiency to seek out, however that is the identical for everyone within the paddock.

“These automobiles are fairly new for everybody. So you have to push it to grasp the place precisely the restrict is. Nevertheless it’s been a strong first day. Now we have got to attend and see the way it goes tomorrow once we push a bit extra.”

Images from Australian GP – Free Follow