Ferrari has pledged to address communication challenges with Lewis Hamilton following a turbulent start to their partnership at the Australian Grand Prix.
Hamilton, who transitioned to Ferrari after 12 seasons with Mercedes, faced a tough initiation with the team, finishing 10th in his debut race. The season opener in Melbourne saw McLaren’s Lando Norris clinch victory, while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ George Russell secured second and third, respectively. A late reshuffle also occurred as rookie Kimi Antonelli’s five-second penalty was revoked, promoting him to fourth.
The spotlight, however, fell on Hamilton’s strained radio exchanges with Ferrari engineer Riccardo Adami during the race. The seven-time champion voiced frustration over the car’s unpredictable handling and conflicting weather forecasts, which impacted strategy decisions. Post-race, Hamilton reflected on the difficulties, telling Sky Sports:
“It was incredibly challenging. The car felt far more unruly than I anticipated—it was a battle just to keep it on track. Adjusting to the new power unit in wet conditions, along with different steering setups and weather updates, threw us off. We expected a brief shower, but it intensified unexpectedly.”
In response, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur acknowledged the need for improvement, emphasizing the importance of refining dialogue between Hamilton and the team.
“This was our first race together, and communication is a two-way learning process,” Vasseur stated. “We must adapt to Lewis’s preferences and extract lessons from this weekend. While the outcome wasn’t ideal, we’re focused on progress for China. These growing pains will ultimately strengthen our collaboration.”
The Italian squad now aims to rebuild momentum ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, with Hamilton and Ferrari determined to translate early setbacks into future success.
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