Lewis Hamilton's debut with Ferrari at the Australian Grand Prix ended on a disappointing note as he finished 10th after struggling with race conditions and car balance. The highly anticipated kickoff to the 2025 Formula 1 season occurred on March 16, and expectations were high for the British driver who made the switch from Mercedes to Ferrari.
During the qualifying session, held on March 15, Hamilton qualified eighth, one position behind his teammate Charles Leclerc. While McLaren's Lando Norris secured pole position, the Ferrari pair faced difficulties on the track, finishing significantly behind their competitors. Hamilton remarked, "I didn't know I was going to be nine or eight-tenths slower today," reflecting on the challenges he faced adapting to the SF-25. Leclerc finished seventh, just edging out Hamilton after both drivers encountered problems throughout the session.
After securing only fourth-row starts, Scuderia Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur voiced his dissatisfaction with the qualifying results, emphasizing the nearly seven-tenths gap between his team and McLaren. Yet, he believed this margin did not truly reflect the SF-25's potential. According to Vasseur, "The season is not decided by a single qualifying session," implying there remained opportunities for the team to regain competitiveness during the race.
Race day brought unexpected rain, adding layers of complexity to Hamilton's first outing with Ferrari. Unfamiliar with the car's performance under wet conditions, he expressed concerns about not knowing the wet settings, saying, "I’ve never driven this car in the wet!" Hamilton's apprehension reflected his limited experience with the SF-25, which left him feeling "in an uncomfortable position".
Despite the challenges, Hamilton sought to stay optimistic, asserting, "For tomorrow, we have room for improvement. I think we can do much more during race conditions and see how the weather develops." Both he and Leclerc recognized the need for adaptation, particularly during the unpredictable race. Hamilton's hopes for leveraging Ferrari's past successes as they braced for the season's first real competition was evident.
During the race, late rain played havoc with the drivers, presenting them with challenging conditions to navigate alongside their competitors. Ferrari strategized to keep Hamilton out on the track as the precipitation began to increase, unlike most leaders who pit for tires suited to the wet conditions. Unfortunately, this decision backfired when a safety car was deployed after other teams had successfully pitted.
When the safety car came out, Hamilton finally pitted for intermediate wet tires only to lose valuable time and drop back toward the back of the pack. He acknowledged over team radio, "That's an opportunity missed" after realizing he had fallen to ninth place. His frustrations were palpable as he moved alongside teammate Leclerc and McLaren's Oscar Piastri during the final laps.
Although Hamilton began the race strong from eighth place, he ended up losing positions and momentum near the closing stages. He later expressed disappointment about the race's conclusion, stating he had lost to Piastri on the last lap. "It’s been a torrid final 15 laps for me," Hamilton remarked, emphasizing the challenges he faced racing under unfamiliar conditions.
The unexpected winners of the day were Norris, who claimed his first victory, followed by Max Verstappen and George Russell sealing the top three spots on the podium. Hamilton's teammate Leclerc managed to secure eighth, illustrating the fierce competition from their rivals, particularly the resurgence of McLaren this season.
Reflecting on his debut weekend, Hamilton noted the steep learning curve involved with transitioning to Ferrari from Mercedes. He often referenced the many adjustments needed to fully grasp the SF-25's balance and handling specifics. "There’s still tons of tools I’m still not there on," he noted, highlighting how much he relied on the team and engineers during this race weekend.
Former Ferrari driver and world champion Nigel Mansell emphasized the importance of Hamilton's choice to drive for Ferrari, recalling glad memories of wearing the Scuderia red. He is optimistic about Hamilton's future with Ferrari, indicating similar experiences between the two drivers and the expectations of the team’s unwavering support. Mansell asserted, "They’ll embrace him like there’s no tomorrow."
Hamilton's debut may not have gone as planned, but the unpredictability of the race combined with lessons learned from the car's condition under wet weather could pave the way for future opportunities. He is aware there is still much work to be done to adapt and improve this season. The road for Hamilton and Ferrari begins not just with how they finish the races but also how they respond to the challenges encountered along the way.
Future races remain on the horizon, and with this season's competition heating up, Hamilton remains hopeful of turning around the initial struggles and finding victory with Ferrari. The first race illustrated the rapid shifts of Formula 1, with fierce competition leading to uncertainty and excitement throughout the remaining races.