MELBOURNE (AP) — Lewis Hamilton’s relationship with his new team Ferrari was put to the test in Australia, where he finished in a disappointing tenth place in his debut and expressed frustration over a poor strategy that cost him a possible victory on Sunday.
Hamilton started in eighth position and spent the first third of the race behind the rear wing of Alex Albon from Williams.
What was Hamilton’s annoyance with Ferrari?
The seven-time world champion took the lead on lap 46 after those ahead went into the pits to switch to fresh intermediate tires in the face of a new downpour. Hamilton expressed angrily over the radio that “we missed a great opportunity” after traffic and a late pit stop pushed him back to ninth place.
Hamilton’s idea was to keep the slick tires on the wet track, take advantage of the Safety Car that appeared due to new accidents, and try to win while the Albert Park track in Melbourne dried up.
Giving up an additional spot to finish tenth when Oscar Piastri overtook the Briton on the last lap did not help improve Hamilton’s mood.
“The rain always complicates things and the strategy depends on the weather and a bit of luck,” said the 40-year-old pilot. “We took a risk and gained positions, but then entering the pits too late for the intermediates cost us, leaving us at the back of the top ten with too much ground to make up.”
Hamilton also had trouble keeping his Ferrari in a straight line, showing just how much the Prancing Horse has to do to regain its pace.
“I struggled with the balance, but it was an important race to learn more about the car and in different weather conditions, as well as to gain more experience working with a new team,” commented Hamilton.
Lando Norris won the first race.
The victory of a chaotic Australian Grand Prix affected by rain went to Lando Norris of McLaren, who ended up just staying ahead of Max Verstappen of Red Bull after the entry of a third safety car at the end of the opening race of the Formula One season.
Norris started from pole position in the first wet race in Melbourne since 2010 and emerged victorious for the first time at Albert Park. Although he initially faced increasing pressure from his teammate Oscar Piastri, who set a series of fast laps until his team instructed him to hold position, the Australian lost control in the penultimate corner on lap 44, when the rain intensified, and lost positions.