Lewis Hamilton starts solid in his Formula 1 adventure with Ferrari, ends the first training day of the Australia GP (Qualifying on Saturday from 5:30 a.m., live at RTL) In fifth place. However, Hamilton’s behind Scuderia-Rival Charles Leclerc is considerable. RTL expert Christian Danner sees a “dangerous sign”.
Lewis Hamilton completed his first Formula 1 sessions in red. First intermediate conclusion: Ferrari makes a strong impression in the Albert Park of Melbourne, the British superstar.
In the second training session, Hamilton’s stable colleague Charles Leclerc raced in front of the favorite McLaren cars at the best time. The record champion was fifth.
Positive from a Hamilton perspective: he improved significantly in the second training session, and the Englishman had only taken up twelfth place at the start. Also the gap to Leclerc reduced Hamilton. But: The seven -time world champion still lacked four tenths – a very thick board in Formula 1, especially since on a short route like Melbourne.
“The car does not feel bad – only differently than anything I am used to” recapitulated Hamilton and justifies the big gap to Leclerc: “Charles simply knows all the options because it has been in a team for so long. I’m still in the learning process.”
Formula 1: Change Hamilton’s driving style? “Nobody has managed that yet”
Statements from which RTL expert Christian Danner hears the first alarm bells.
Hamilton has not yet “become one by car,” said Danner at RTL/NTV and sport.de. “He says that he has to adapt his driving style. For me, this is always a very dangerous sign, because adapting the driving style – nobody has really managed.”
Danner therefore sees the ball more at Scuderia. “I think Ferrari has to give him a car, which better corresponds to the Hamilton style,” said the former F1 pilot. Otherwise, the 40-year-old will “have a rather tough season ahead of him”.
Hamilton could “not catch up with this lead that Leclerc has very clear: in dealing and understanding with this Ferrari,” emphasized Danner.
Leclerc has been driving at Ferrari since 2019. Already in his first season he left his then garage neighbor Sebastian Vettel behind. The four -time world champion left Ferrari towards Aston Martin for the 2021 season.