By Ian Ransom
HT Picture
MELBOURNE – Lewis Hamilton shall be burning the midnight oil to study Ferrari’s rain settings with moist climate forecast for the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday, because the Briton continues to rise up to hurry along with his new workforce.
The season-opening race at Albert Park shall be Hamilton’s first for the glamour workforce after successful his seven titles with McLaren and Mercedes.
The 40-year-old struggled for tempo through the three apply classes and certified solely eighth, one place behind teammate Charles Leclerc, in scorching warmth at Albert Park on Saturday.
Regardless of Ferrari’s lack of qualifying tempo, rain on Sunday may assist them make up floor to the McLarens on the entrance.
“Tomorrow’s going to be a challenge, I’ve never driven this car in the rain,” stated Hamilton.
“I don’t even know the rain settings so I’ve got to go and study that tonight. It will be a learning experience again.”
McLaren’s pole-sitter Lando Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri locked out the entrance row, with defending champion Max Verstappen third and Mercedes’ George Russell fourth.
Hamilton was almost nine-tenths of a second behind Norris’s quickest lap but when the seven-times world champion was disillusioned by his automotive’s efficiency, he hid it properly.
“I had a really good time out there today. Everything’s been a first this weekend,” he stated.
“To be that close in my first qualifying session, I’d definitely take it. We’ll just get our heads down and start working, trying to find out why we’re not on pace with the frontrunners.”
Leclerc was much less enthused along with his automotive’s working within the ultimate session of qualifying.
“The lap wasn’t great, all in all, we just didn’t have the pace today,” stated the Monegasque driver.
“We mainly struggled with the balance of the car and putting it all together, so we have some work to do.”