Lewis Hamilton expressed optimism about the upcoming Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, stating he believes he has `figured out` the driving style his Ferrari requires after the Bahrain race.
The seven-time world champion recovered from a disappointing ninth place in qualifying to finish fifth in the race on Sunday. This was his best result of the season since joining Ferrari after a significant move from Mercedes, where he spent 12 years.
Despite a Sprint victory in China earlier, Hamilton had been struggling to match the pace of his teammate Charles Leclerc, who finished fourth in Bahrain. However, Hamilton feels he made a breakthrough at the Bahrain International Circuit.
Speaking to media, Hamilton explained that after driving with the same team for a long time, he had become accustomed to a specific driving style. Moving to Ferrari and a new car demands a very different approach and setup.
He mentioned using engine braking, a technique not utilized in previous years, and different braking systems. Hamilton is adapting to the car`s unique driving style and believes he is gradually getting to grips with it.
Hamilton noted that Charles Leclerc tends to stick with a consistent setup throughout the weekend, while Hamilton had been significantly behind Leclerc in both Bahrain weekends. He acknowledged that he needs to improve his performance throughout the weekend.
Hamilton stated he needs to simplify his approach and is currently making things harder for himself. He plans to start from a better position next week and maintain consistency.
He concluded that he believes he now understands how the Ferrari car needs to be driven. If he can apply this knowledge next week and qualify better, he anticipates a much-improved weekend.
Vasseur Praises Hamilton`s Strong Recovery
Following a disappointing qualifying session, Hamilton appeared dejected and apologized to Ferrari and their fans for what he considered a poor performance.
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur understood Hamilton`s frustration, noting his consistent pace with Charles Leclerc in practice sessions, Q1, and Q2. Vasseur explained that a deleted lap and a mistake in Q3 cost Hamilton, leading to the frustration.
However, Vasseur was pleased with Hamilton`s race response on Sunday. He highlighted that Hamilton`s race pace was comparable to Mercedes` George Russell and McLaren`s Lando Norris, who finished second and third respectively.
Vasseur described Hamilton`s race as a “very strong recovery” and “solid,” adding that his race time was almost similar to the top competitors. He emphasized the importance of qualifying in a highly competitive field, where even small mistakes can significantly impact grid position.
