Hamilton warns rivals after poor Ferrari showing: 'A lot more performance'
F1 News
In the end Ferrari's bid to fight for the win in the Australian Grand Prix became diluted since FP3 and onward, with both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finishing the race some 20 and 22 seconds respectively behind winner Lando Norris. However, the seven-time world champion looks to China and warns the Scuderia's rivals as there's plenty more potential to the SF-25.
Hamilton signals rivals on SF-25's 'unlocked potential'
Speaking to GPblog and other media present at Albert Park after the race, Hamilton begins: "I don’t know if we had anywhere near the pace as maybe the McLaren’s had today, but I do think in the car there’s a lot more performance, I just think we didn’t unlock it this weekend," says the Briton.
Speaking on the progression he showed this weekend, with the Briton closing the gap to teammate Leclerc, Hamilton says it was all a matter of confidence. "From the moment I got in the car on Friday, I didn't have the confidence, particularly at all the high speed I was down a huge amount. And [on] Saturday, confidence was coming back, I was building, building, building."
However, said progression was ultimately lost. "And then we got to the race and again started from scratch and I didn't have any confidence through pretty much most of the race, but I think in the settings as well, the car was very tricky."
The F1 circus now travels to China for the second round of the championship, for which Hamilton already pinpoints areas of improvement for Ferrari. "Many many things, I think set up wise, I'd set the car up just a lot different and position the car different in different parts of the race, different calls," he concluded.
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