Lewis Hamilton may have lined up behind Charles Leclerc in their first qualifying battle as Ferrari teammates, but the seven-time world champion is far from discouraged.
Despite a tough start to the Australian Grand Prix weekend, Hamilton is embracing the challenge as he gets up to speed with his new team.
The 40-year-old, making his highly anticipated Ferrari debut, struggled for outright pace during the practice sessions and could only manage eighth in Saturday’s scorching qualifying session at Albert Park.
His teammate Leclerc fared slightly better, securing seventh, but both Ferrari drivers were well off the front-running pace set by McLaren’s Lando Norris, who took pole position ahead of Oscar Piastri.
“I’ll Take That”: Hamilton Optimistic Despite Qualifying Struggles
Hamilton, nearly nine-tenths of a second behind Norris’s pole time, remains upbeat about his progress in the SF-24.
“I had a really good time out there today. Everything’s been a first this weekend,” Hamilton said. “To be that close in my first qualifying session, I’d definitely take it. We’ll just get our heads down and start working, trying to find out why we’re not on pace with the frontrunners.”
While Ferrari’s one-lap pace left much to be desired, the race could be a different story, with rain expected to shake things up on Sunday.
“Tomorrow’s going to be a challenge, I’ve never driven this car in the rain,” Hamilton admitted. “I don’t even know the rain settings so I’ve got to go and study that tonight. It will be a learning experience again.”
Leclerc Left Frustrated, Ferrari Searching for Answers
Leclerc, who had hoped for a stronger showing in qualifying, was less enthused with Ferrari’s performance.
“The lap wasn’t great, all in all, we just didn’t have the pace today,” said the Monegasque driver. “We mainly struggled with the balance of the car and putting it all together, so we have some work to do.”
With McLaren locking out the front row and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen starting third, Ferrari will need to capitalize on any opportunities that arise in Sunday’s race.
If the forecasted rain does arrive, Hamilton and Leclerc could find themselves in contention for a strong result—if they can master their wet-weather setup in time.
For Hamilton, though, the bigger picture remains the focus. The qualifying deficit to Leclerc may be small, but the journey to understanding his new car is just beginning.
