BREAKING: Lewis Hamilton Frustrated After Ferrari’s C…read more
BREAKING: Lewis Hamilton Frustrated After Ferrari’s C…read more
Lewis Hamilton expressed disappointment after setup adjustments to his Ferrari made the car significantly harder to handle during qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix.
The seven-time world champion, who dominated the sprint race earlier in the day, could only manage fifth place on the grid for Sunday’s main race. Despite Ferrari making what seemed like minor changes, the tweaks had a major impact on the car’s balance and overall performance.
Unpredictable Handling Leaves Hamilton Struggling
Hamilton finished three-tenths behind pole-sitter Oscar Piastri but managed to outpace his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc by just under a tenth. Reflecting on his qualifying session, he admitted that the adjustments made the car highly unstable.
“We started the session feeling optimistic, but after making a few small tweaks, the car became incredibly sensitive,” Hamilton explained. “The wind also picked up, making it even harder to drive and more difficult to put together a strong lap.”
The British driver highlighted the need for a consistent car but admitted that Ferrari’s latest changes created more unpredictability. “You want a car that reacts predictably through every corner. Today, one moment it would oversteer, and the next, it would lock up. When that happens, there’s not much you can do.”
Hopes for Stronger Race Performance
Despite his qualifying struggles, Hamilton remains hopeful that Ferrari’s changes will be beneficial over a race distance. “We adjusted the car to improve race pace, but it definitely hurt us in qualifying. Tomorrow will be an interesting test.”
Shanghai’s multiple overtaking zones could play to Hamilton’s advantage, but he acknowledged that following closely remains a challenge. “This track offers good racing opportunities, but as we saw in the sprint, it’s still tough to follow other cars. Tyre management will be crucial.”
Hamilton is determined to make progress in the race. “I want a strong start, gain at least one position early, and then build from there. Tonight, I’ll focus on creating the best strategy to fight for the win.”
Leclerc Accepts Ferrari’s Current Performance Level
Leclerc, who qualified sixth, admitted that Ferrari’s grid position reflects their true pace. “We just didn’t have the grip today,” he said. “In Australia, we didn’t execute qualifying well, but here, being three-tenths off seems to be where we are right now.”
While Ferrari showed promise in the sprint race, their qualifying pace suggests they still have improvements to make. Whether Hamilton and Leclerc can challenge for victory on Sunday remains to be seen.
