Hamilton “slowly piecing the puzzle together” after “messy” start to practice · RaceFans

Lewis Hamilton said he made progress over the course of his first two practice sessions at Ferrari in Melbourne today.

After placing 12th in the opening session, Hamilton improved to fifth later in the day. He was four tenths of a second off team mate Charles Leclerc, who set the pace on Friday in Melbourne.

“It felt amazing to get out there and be in a Ferrari here,” Hamilton told the official F1 channel afterwards. “Honestly, the car felt so much different to what I’ve ever experienced coming to this track so it took a little bit of bedding in through [first practice].

“[Second practice] was definitely a little better, but just building, we’re slowly building and getting a little bit faster bit by bit.”

The SF-25 feels “a lot different” to the Mercedes chassis Hamilton drove in previous seasons. “The car doesn’t feel bad or anything, it just requires a different way of driving, so I’m adjusting my driving style bit by bit. But I’m enjoying driving.”

Hamilton’s unfamiliarity with aspects of Ferrari’s operation is slowing his progress. He said the first practice session was “a little bit messy” but by the second “it was definitely starting to look a bit better.”

“I’m really still getting used to all the set-up changes,” he explained. “I don’t have them on call like I used to have obviously at Mercedes because I’d been there for so long I knew exactly all the set-up changes. So I’m still working through understanding what tools we can use.”

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Today was the first time Hamilton has shared a track with Leclerc as team mates. “It’s interesting because you can see with Charles, he just knows because he’s been here for such a lot of time,” he said. “But I’m slowly piecing the puzzle together.”

Leclerc’s fastest time, which put him a tenth of a second ahead of the two McLarens, gave Ferrari more encouragement. “I think the long-run was competitive with the others as well,” said Hamilton. “McLaren looked pretty quick. So it looked pretty close up top.”

However he downplayed the possibility of being able to fight for pole position tomorrow. “For me, I think it’s a little bit early as I continue to just learn the car,” he said. “But never say never.

“I’ll still give it everything I’ve got tomorrow and just not put [myself under] much pressure. I’m just going to try and enjoy it.

“I’ve got some pace to find, I know where I’ve got to find it. It’s just about going out and doing it, but it’s building.”

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