Frustrating start for Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari at F1 Australian Grand Prix

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Lewis Hamilton’s relationship with his new Ferrari team was pressure tested in Australia, where he finished a disappointing 10th on debut, and was frustrated by a bad strategy Sunday that cost him a potential victory, and constant radio chatter throughout the difficult race won by McLaren's Lando Norris.

Hamilton started eighth, and spent the first third of it behind the rear wing of Williams’ Alex Albon. But, while the seven-time world champion hit the lead on lap 46 after those ahead pitted for fresh intermediate tires, Hamilton angrily stated over team radio that “we missed a big opportunity” after subsequent traffic and a late stop dropped him back to ninth.

Dropping a further place to tenth after Oscar Piastri overtook the Brit in the final lap did little to lighten Hamilton's mood.

“The rain always mixes things up and strategy comes down to timing and a bit of luck,” the 40-year-old said. “We took a gamble and made up places, but then boxing too late for Inters (intermediate tires) cost us, dropping us to the back of the top 10 with too much ground to recover.”

Hamilton also had trouble keeping his Ferrari in a straight line, showing just how much the Prancing Horse has to do to claw back its pace.

“I struggled with the balance, but it was an important race for learning more about the car and in different weather conditions, as well as gaining more experience working with a new team,” Hamilton said.

___

AP Formula 1: https://apnews.com/hub/formula-one

Topics

Frustrating start for Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari at F1 Australian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton’s relationship with his new Ferrari team was pressure tested in Australia, where he finished a disappointing 10th on debut, and was frustrated by a bad strategy that cost him a ...
ABC News - 5h
Hamilton's first Ferrari race 'a big crash course'

Lewis Hamilton says his first race for Ferrari was "a big crash course" after he finished 10th in a chaotic Australian Grand Prix.
BBC News - 5h
Hamilton's first Ferrari race 'a big crash course'

Lewis Hamilton says his first race for Ferrari was "a big crash course" after he finished 10th in a chaotic Australian Grand Prix.
Yahoo Sports - 3h
Lewis Hamilton has tough start with Ferrari, qualifying eighth in F1 Australian GP

Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari odyssey got off to a tough start on Saturday after the British driver qualified in eighth for Sunday's Australian Grand Prix. The seven-time F1 world champion was ...
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Lewis Hamilton says outside pressure ‘nonexistent’ before F1 Ferrari debut

Briton ‘under no assumptions that it will be easy’ Hopes high at Melbourne for Hamilton and Ferrari Lewis Hamilton has insisted he has nothing to prove and feels no pressure going into his first ...
The Guardian - 3d
Ferrari's debut winners: Can Lewis Hamilton join list of legends?

Some of the biggest names in F1 history have won in their debuts with Ferrari, a feat Lewis Hamilton will look to replicate on Sunday in Australia.
ESPN - 3d
Hamilton does not feel pressure to 'prove anything'

Before starting his Ferrari career at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton says he does not feel any pressure to prove himself.
BBC News - 3d
McLaren dominates first F1 qualifying of the season at Australian GP as Lewis Hamilton finishes eighth in Ferrari debut

McLaren finished with an impressive one-two in the first Formula 1 qualifying event of the 2025 season at the Australian Grand Prix on Saturday.
Yahoo Sports - 1d
Formula 1 picks, odds, grid, start time: 2025 Australian Grand Prix predictions, F1 bets by proven model

SportsLine's model analyzes Max Verstappen, Lando Norris and the rest of the starting grid's chances at the F1 Australian GP 2025 as Lewis Hamilton makes his Ferrari debut
CBS Sports - 14h

Frustrating start for Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari at F1 Australian Grand Prix

Topics

Related

Frustrating start for Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari at F1 Australian Grand Prix

Hamilton's first Ferrari race 'a big crash course'

Hamilton's first Ferrari race 'a big crash course'

Lewis Hamilton has tough start with Ferrari, qualifying eighth in F1 Australian GP

Lewis Hamilton says outside pressure ‘nonexistent’ before F1 Ferrari debut

Ferrari's debut winners: Can Lewis Hamilton join list of legends?

Hamilton does not feel pressure to 'prove anything'

McLaren dominates first F1 qualifying of the season at Australian GP as Lewis Hamilton finishes eighth in Ferrari debut

Formula 1 picks, odds, grid, start time: 2025 Australian Grand Prix predictions, F1 bets by proven model

More from Yahoo Sports

🔴 LIVE: Merino puts Arsenal ahead, Solanke heads wide for Spurs

LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier discusses what it means to have his dad coaching with the Saints

Thunder vs. Bucks Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 16

CBS Sports' mock draft has Cardinals taking O-lineman

Bruins' Elias Lindholm Gets Real After Latest Embarrassing Loss

More in Sports

EFL Cup final: How to watch Liverpool vs. Newcastle, odds, live stream, prediction, channel, start time

🔴 LIVE: Merino puts Arsenal ahead, Solanke heads wide for Spurs

LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier discusses what it means to have his dad coaching with the Saints

Thunder vs. Bucks Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for March 16

2025 Masters expert picks, predictions, odds: Golf insider choosing Sepp Straka at Augusta National