Hamilton Finds His Groove in Still-Strange Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton showed signs of real progress in Bahrain as he continues adapting to Ferrari’s unique demands and unfamiliar driving style.

Hamilton is beginning to settle into life at Ferrari, even if the car still feels like foreign territory at times.

The seven-time world champion admitted that during the Bahrain Grand Prix weekend, he had moments where everything clicked. It’s a sign that, while the learning curve remains steep, real progress is being made.

“Overall, it was a solid race,” Hamilton said. “I got off to a good start, made some gains early on, and felt really strong in the middle stint on the medium tyres. That gave me the chance to make a few good overtakes.”

The pace was there, and for the first time this season, Hamilton felt he could truly push without falling outside the car’s performance window.

“The car felt good. On the hard tyre the balance started to fade a bit, but I was still happy with how things went.”

Hamilton is well aware this is all part of the adjustment period. “There were points in the race where I felt really in sync with the car. My driving style finally started to match what it needs.”

“I’ve learned a lot this weekend — probably more than any other so far. Now the challenge is to carry that momentum into the next races.”

He admits adapting from over a decade with Mercedes hasn’t been easy. “I’ve been driving the same way with the same team for so long. This Ferrari is just… different. It needs a totally different driving style, different setup choices. I’m still figuring it out.”

Still, the signs are promising. “I was quite far off Charles in the last two races, but I’m getting closer. If I start the weekend from a better place and build on what I’ve learned, I think we’ll be in a strong position.”

Team boss Fred Vasseur is backing the process, reminding everyone that building a new relationship like this takes time.

“You don’t replace 12 years of teamwork in two races,” Vasseur said. “Everyone needs to improve — that’s the nature of this sport. But Lewis has the right mindset. He knows he needs to adapt, and we’ll adapt the car to him, too. It’s all very positive.”

And in such a tight field, there’s no room for error. “A few years ago, being a few tenths off might cost you a row on the grid. Now, you’re suddenly six or seven positions back. That’s why we have to stay calm and keep progressing.”

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Hamilton Finds His Groove in Still-Strange Ferrari Hamilton Finds His Groove in Still-Strange Ferrari