Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time World Champion, finds himself in a challenging position at Ferrari, mirroring his last difficult year with Mercedes.
Hamilton’s debut with Ferrari was a realization of a childhood dream, moving on from a 12-year career at Mercedes marked by record-breaking success. Yet, the initial excitement of driving in Ferrari red has shifted towards a more somber atmosphere as the season progresses. At Bahrain, Hamilton trailed Charles Leclerc by six-tenths, admitting he was not quick enough and expressing dissatisfaction with his performance. A slight uplift came during the Bahrain Grand Prix, but the mood dampened again after Friday practice in Saudi Arabia, with Hamilton echoing similar concerns over his pace.
Facing a six-tenths deficit to Leclerc yet again, Hamilton seemed resigned on the prospects of moving backwards during Saudi Arabia’s qualifying. He acknowledged some promising aspects during practice but noted that issues arose with the soft tires. “Hopefully, we can make some overnight improvements,” Hamilton remarked, expressing a hope for a better performance the following day.
Bernie Collins, former McLaren chief performance engineer, addressed Hamilton’s apparent morale drop on Sky F1’s The F1 Show. She highlighted the need for him to rediscover the positive attitude he showcased when he first joined Ferrari, essential to recapturing what she described as the driver’s former ‘magic.’
Despite the current struggles, Hamilton remains a fierce competitor, sitting P7 in the Drivers’ Championship, albeit behind Leclerc. The Brit continues to chase his first triumph over his teammate in a Ferrari at a grand prix. The journey is ongoing and as Ferrari pushes upgrades at the Saudi Arabian GP, Hamilton’s fight to reclaim his form is far from over.
Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari is filled with highs and lows. As he navigates this new chapter, finding that elusive balance is key to reigniting his legendary prowess.
