Former teammate Valtteri Bottas is confident that Lewis Hamilton will quickly adapt to Ferrari’s engine demands and racing style.
Bottas knows firsthand what Lewis Hamilton is going through. The Finnish driver himself went through a similar transition a few years ago.
Hamilton’s start with Ferrari has been mixed. Driving the SF-25 still feels “strange” to him and adapting has proven tougher than expected. Over the last few weekends, Hamilton has sounded increasingly frustrated. He qualified more than half a second slower than teammate Charles Leclerc at both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix.
However, Bottas, who raced with Ferrari engines for three seasons after leaving Mercedes, believes Hamilton has everything he needs to make the adjustment. He just needs time to master the basics.
Hamilton recently explained, “I have not used this much engine braking in 12 years. Here, we rely heavily on it to rotate the car. The brakes are very different from what I had before.”
He added, “Sometimes, I have to use the rear wheels to help turn the car, and other times I need to shift more weight to the front. The range is bigger than what I am used to, and I have to adapt.”
While Bottas cannot directly compare Ferrari’s brakes to those of Mercedes, he does know what it feels like to adapt to Ferrari’s V6 engine and its braking characteristics. After five seasons alongside Hamilton at Mercedes, Bottas moved to the Ferrari-powered Alfa Romeo team in 2022 and spent three years there.
“It is not too difficult to adapt to the Ferrari engine,” Bottas said. “The differences are not huge. The biggest challenge is getting used to the new settings and terminology. But once you get the basics right, it is quite straightforward.”
When asked if a change in driving style is necessary to get the most out of Ferrari’s engine, Bottas replied, “Minimal. It is mostly about adjusting gear shifts and engine braking. Everything is adjustable, so you can find a setup that works for you.”
Bottas is also impressed by how Hamilton is handling the transition, even if the results so far have been mixed. He is more optimistic than many observers in the paddock.
“It is a massive change after so many years at Mercedes, working with the same people,” he said. “Ferrari has a very different culture. Italian racing culture is not the same as the Anglo-German environment at Mercedes.”
“I think Lewis is doing well, even though he still needs time to fully adapt. He has already shown he still has speed, especially in China. I believe this kind of change gives new energy, even if it does not feel like that yet.”
Commenting on rumors about Hamilton being restricted from bringing trusted engineers with him to Ferrari, Bottas added, “The hardest part about changing teams is working with new people.”
“This sport is all about human performance and teamwork. You need to really understand the people around you. That is how you get the best out of yourself and out of the team.”
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