Lewis Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari has encountered early challenges at the Australian Grand Prix. During the opening practice sessions at Melbourne’s Albert Park Circuit, Hamilton’s Ferrari was randomly selected by the FIA for a standard pre-race inspection. This procedure, outlined in Article 19 of the sporting regulations, ensures compliance with technical standards.
In qualifying, Hamilton’s performance was below expectations. He secured the eighth position on the grid, trailing teammate Charles Leclerc, who qualified seventh. McLaren’s Lando Norris clinched pole position, narrowly edging out teammate Oscar Piastri by just 0.084 seconds. Reigning champion Max Verstappen took third place, while Mercedes’ George Russell secured fourth. The Ferraris struggled with pace and tire management on the challenging track.
Hamilton expressed surprise at Ferrari’s lack of pace, stating he didn’t anticipate being eight-tenths off the leading times. He acknowledged that there’s a lot to analyze and improve upon.
Adding to Ferrari’s woes, both Hamilton and Verstappen were subjected to FIA inspections during practice, highlighting the governing body’s scrutiny of car setups early in the weekend.
Looking ahead, the Australian Grand Prix is set to commence on Sunday, March 16, at 3 pm AEDT. Changing weather conditions, including forecasts of rain, are expected to add unpredictability to the race, potentially influencing performance and strategy.