Lewis Hamilton expressed optimism for the upcoming Saudi Arabian Grand Prix after leaving Bahrain. He believes he has “figured out” the optimal driving style for his Ferrari.
The seven-time world champion recovered from a disappointing ninth place in qualifying to finish fifth in the race on Sunday. This marked his best Grand Prix result of the season since joining Ferrari after a significant move from Mercedes, where he spent 12 years.
Despite a Sprint victory in China, Hamilton had been struggling to match the pace of his teammate Charles Leclerc, who finished fourth in Bahrain. However, Hamilton believes he made significant progress at the Bahrain International Circuit.
Speaking to media, Hamilton explained that adapting to the Ferrari required a shift in driving style compared to his previous team. He mentioned using engine braking and different brake settings, indicating a need to adjust his approach.
“I think I`ve been driving a certain style for a long time, and moving to a new car requires a different driving style and settings,” Hamilton stated. “This car needs a much different driving style, and I`m adjusting to it. I think I`m slowly understanding it.”
Hamilton noted that Charles Leclerc typically maintains a consistent setup throughout the weekend, while he has been further off the pace. He acknowledged needing to improve his performance over the entire race weekend.
“I need to do a better job throughout the weekend. I know I can and I will,” Hamilton added.
He aims to simplify his approach for the next race, starting from a better baseline and minimizing deviations. Hamilton hopes that by applying his newfound understanding of the car and improving his qualifying performance, he can achieve a stronger weekend result. “We`ll see,” he concluded.
Vasseur Acknowledges Hamilton`s Strong Recovery
Following a disappointing qualifying session, Ferrari principal Frederic Vasseur understood Hamilton`s frustration, noting his close performance to Leclerc in earlier sessions before a mistake in Q3.
However, Vasseur praised Hamilton`s strong recovery in the race. He pointed out that Hamilton`s race pace was comparable to top competitors like George Russell and Lando Norris, highlighting the competitiveness of the current field and the importance of qualifying position.
“He had a very strong recovery, a solid race,” Vasseur said. “The race time compared to the top two or three was almost similar. For me, it was very strong and consistent.”
Marcus Prine