Lewis Hamilton seems uneasy with his new Ferrari, and Juan Pablo Montoya has taken notice. The racing icon discusses Hamilton’s discomfort in the latest races.
- Hamilton clinched victory at the Shanghai Sprint but faced disqualification due to technical issues in the main event.
- Setup changes to Hamilton’s SF-25 worsened its performance, yet Montoya sees potential for future successes.
- Footage reveals Hamilton’s struggle with understeer, as Montoya notes his apparent mistrust of the car’s handling.
- Ferrari aims to improve Hamilton’s experience, but questions arise about how this will affect teammate Charles Leclerc.
Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time World Champion, finds himself in an unusual predicament with his new Ferrari car. Juan Pablo Montoya, a former McLaren and Williams driver, observed that Hamilton appears ‘so uncomfortable’ during his races, particularly noting that Hamilton ‘did not trust the car’ in Australia.
Hamilton achieved a remarkable win in Shanghai during the Sprint event but faced setbacks in the main race due to technical disqualifications alongside fellow Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc. Despite clinching P1 at the Shanghai International Circuit, both drivers were penalized for technical infringements, resulting in a frustrating outcome after Hamilton’s promising Sprint victory.
Montoya’s observations point to changes in the car’s setup that negatively impacted its performance. Hamilton admitted that adjustments to the SF-25’s setup before the Grand Prix qualifying made the vehicle ‘quite a bit worse,’ and unfortunately, these changes were locked in under parc fermé regulations for the race.
Footage analyzed by Montoya suggests that Hamilton was dealing with a significant case of understeer, making it difficult for him to control the car as he wished. In an attempt to improve the car’s steering, engineers made adjustments that left the vehicle ‘really snappy.’ This lack of trust in the car was evident as Hamilton navigated the Australian circuit, where he appeared hesitant and cautious.
Moving forward, Montoya believes that once Hamilton and Ferrari find the right balance, both will benefit greatly. Ferrari is reportedly focused on tailoring the car to Hamilton’s needs. However, this brings up the question of how these adjustments might affect his teammate, Charles Leclerc. Montoya speculates that improvements for Hamilton could lead to discontent for Leclerc, much like the dynamics seen previously in the Red Bull team.
Lewis Hamilton’s journey with Ferrari shows promise, but overcoming technical and personal challenges is crucial for success.
