Lewis Hamilton has tough start with Ferrari, qualifying eighth in F1 Australian GP
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — 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 refreshingly honest after qualifying, saying he’s still not dialled into the Scuderia’s team plans just yet — even if rain forecasted for Sunday's race could bring him back into contention.
“Charles (Leclerc) has more experience of course, but I’m building confidence with the car and learning how to unlock its potential,” Hamilton said.
“Now we will get our heads down and try to find out how we can close the gap. Tomorrow is going to be a challenge, especially as I’ve not driven this car in the wet, but we will be giving it all we can to have a positive first race and be up there.”
Melbourne is expecting contrasting weather conditions on Sunday, with an overcast warm morning giving way to a cool change in the late morning — and a very high chance of showers.
Lando Norris set a searing final qualifying lap to secure pole position for the race, his first at Melbourne’s Albert Park, and milestone 10th overall, in front of his teammate Oscar Piastri, and a record Saturday crowd of 136,347 at Albert Park.
___
AP Formula 1: https://apnews.com/hub/formula-one
Topics
-
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 - 2d -
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 Sunday that cost him ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Lewis Hamilton ready to race for Ferrari for the first time in F1's season-opening Australian GP
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton racing a Ferrari for the first timeABC News - 3d -
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 - 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 debutCBS Sports - 1d -
Norris takes Melbourne pole with Hamilton eighth
Lando Norris secures pole position for the Australian Grand Prix, while Lewis Hamilton is eighth on his Ferrari debut.BBC News - 2d -
Lewis Hamilton swears over radio as Ferrari miss chance for F1 debut win in Australian GP
The seven-time F1 world champion failed to pit when needed amid carnage in the rain in Melbourne while Lando Norris kept his composure to win the first race of the seasonYahoo Sports - 1d -
Norris holds off Verstappen to win rain-hit Australian Grand Prix
Lando Norris kept his cool in a rain-hit and incident-packed season-opening Australian Grand Prix Sunday to edge world champion Max Verstappen with Lewis Hamilton 10th on his Ferrari debut.In the ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Lewis Hamilton reacts to poor first qualifying for Ferrari in Australia: ‘A lot to dissect’
Hamilton could only qualify eighth-fastest in his first outing in Ferrari red as Lando Norris claimed poleYahoo Sports - 2d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
Georgia football freshman WR suffers ankle injury, needs surgery
Georgia true freshman WR Tyler Williams suffered torn ligaments in his ankle, likely taking him out for the rest of Georgia's spring practices.Yahoo Sports - 18m -
Sixers vs. Rockets game preview: How to watch, lineups, broadcast info
The Philadelphia 76ers continue the road trip on Monday as they take on the Houston Rockets on the second night of a back-to-back.Yahoo Sports - 18m -
Derek Carr and Saints relationship may be deteriorating amid latest report
Derek Carr reportedly wanting to test free agency is a sign of a deteriorating relationship between him and the Saints.Yahoo Sports - 18m -
“I’ll tell you” – Pep Guardiola reveals what Manchester City would make of Europa League football for 2025/26 term
Manchester City would hold a feeling of ‘disappointment’ if they only managed to secure UEFA Europa League football next season, Pep Guardiola has admitted.The reigning English champions are facin...Yahoo Sports - 19m -
Calipari's message to freshmen in NCAA Tournament: 'Stay in the moment'
The Arkansas Razorbacks had to wait until almost the end of the Selection Show to hear their names called, but they're going to the NCAA Tournament as a 10-seed and will play 7-seed Kansas in the ...Yahoo Sports - 19m
More in Sports
-
MLB's villains or its gold standard? How the Los Angeles Dodgers got here
Love them or loathe them, the defending champs built a new evil empire with a series of monumental moves.ESPN - 15m -
Georgia football freshman WR suffers ankle injury, needs surgery
Georgia true freshman WR Tyler Williams suffered torn ligaments in his ankle, likely taking him out for the rest of Georgia's spring practices.Yahoo Sports - 18m -
Sixers vs. Rockets game preview: How to watch, lineups, broadcast info
The Philadelphia 76ers continue the road trip on Monday as they take on the Houston Rockets on the second night of a back-to-back.Yahoo Sports - 18m -
Derek Carr and Saints relationship may be deteriorating amid latest report
Derek Carr reportedly wanting to test free agency is a sign of a deteriorating relationship between him and the Saints.Yahoo Sports - 18m -
Calipari's message to freshmen in NCAA Tournament: 'Stay in the moment'
The Arkansas Razorbacks had to wait until almost the end of the Selection Show to hear their names called, but they're going to the NCAA Tournament as a 10-seed and will play 7-seed Kansas in the ...Yahoo Sports - 19m