Christian Horner Mocks Lewis Hamilton’s Nightmare Ferrari Debut

Christian Horner Mocks Lewis Hamilton’s Nightmare Ferrari Debut After Australian GP Slip-Up

Lewis Hamilton’s much-anticipated debut for Ferrari at the Australian Grand Prix turned into a race to forget, as strategy missteps and tricky weather conditions saw the seven-time world champion tumble down the order and finish a disappointing eighth.

The race at Melbourne’s Albert Park was dramatically impacted by a sudden downpour late in the event. With teams initially running on dry weather tyres, a timely switch to wet tyres became critical as the rain began to intensify. However, Ferrari’s decision-making during this crucial window left much to be desired.

While most front-running teams, including Red Bull and McLaren, responded swiftly to the deteriorating track conditions, Ferrari hesitated. Both Lewis Hamilton and his teammate Charles Leclerc were left on slick tyres as the rain intensified, costing them significant time. The delay in pitting proved costly, with both drivers struggling for grip on the now-slippery surface, ultimately falling down the running order.

Hamilton’s situation was further worsened by an off-track excursion, which dropped him even further down the field. Despite recovering somewhat in the latter stages of the race, the British driver could only manage an eighth-place finish — a far cry from what Ferrari had hoped for in his debut race with the team.

Adding salt to the wound, Red Bull team principal Christian Horner didn’t miss the opportunity to take a cheeky dig at his rivals. Speaking to the media after the race, Horner mocked Ferrari’s poor strategy, implying that their delay in switching to wet tyres was a clear error.

“It looked like they were taking a bit of a gamble, and then they probably aborted at the worst time,” Horner said. “So yeah, I haven’t followed their race plot that closely. From the pit wall, that’s sort of what it looked like.”

Horner went on to say that, in rapidly changing weather conditions, it’s essential for teams to be proactive and responsive.

“I think you’ve always got to react to very much what’s going on around you,” he added. “When it’s p***ing down in the pit lane, it’s usually a good time to put some wet tyres on!”

The Ferrari miscalculation wasn’t the only drama of the race, as other drivers, including Liam Lawson and Gabriel Bortoleto, also struggled to stay on track. Both found themselves in the barriers after failing to make the switch to wet tyres in time. Meanwhile, Lando Norris capitalized on the chaos to take a stunning victory for McLaren, while Max Verstappen salvaged second place for Red Bull despite the tricky conditions.

For Ferrari, the race highlighted a need for sharper strategy calls under pressure — especially if they hope to challenge Red Bull’s dominance this season. As for Hamilton, his first outing in red may not have gone as planned, but he’ll be looking to bounce back quickly and prove that his move to Ferrari can still yield success.