Lewis Hamilton said he “feels better” in Ferrari’s 2025 Formula 1 car after tentatively qualifying in the second row of the Monaco Grand Prix grid.
One of the main topics of the new season was Hamilton’s relatively difficult adaptation to the Ferrari SF-25 after a 12-year term with Mercedes, breaking some of the longest records in Formula 1.
Hamilton appeared to have taken a concrete step last week when he scored a strong fourth place at Imola, just 1.5 seconds from the final podium in two locations with teammate Charles Leclerc.
That positive trend appears to be setting 0.428 seconds from McLaren’s Polesitter Lando Norris, as he set the fourth fastest time in qualifying at Monte Carlo.
The result marked a big comeback for the British after experiencing a big crash in the final practice Friday morning.
Hamilton then admitted that this weekend was proven to be a “sharp learning curve” for him, but still feels more comfortable with Ferrari.
“I definitely got there,” Hamilton told reporters, including Crash.Net. “I definitely feel that the last race was a really good step, and then I came this weekend and definitely felt more in the car.
“I think I drive here in a very different car than I did in the last 12 years, but I really enjoy driving.
“Obviously, Charles has been driving this car for the past six years because of how to set up a car here. He hit the ground and knows it like the back of his hand. I think this weekend was a quick, steep learning curve, but he was very pleased with his recovery from the crash.
Hamilton detailed the hurdles he faced with Ferrari this year, explaining that moving from a Mercedes-powered car for the first time in his Formula One carrier also has his own unique challenges.
“It’s a feature through the balance of the corners, the ride is quite different and the softness of the car,” he explained.
“When I was at Mercedes, the car was very stiff. We were running very hard, very low to get downforce. Everything is different. Towing, camber, everything is different. Engine behavior, engine braking, all these different things. I’ve never used it before.
F1 introduced the mandatory two-pit stop rule for the Monaco Grand Prix to liven up the show and increase the chances of drivers moving up the grid.
Hamilton hopes this year’s Monaco race will turn into a “lottery,” but feels it’s important for Formula 1 to do something to offer more strategic options in the race.
“The two stops last year should be better than last year’s S***E. Last year, the safety car came out on lap 2 and everyone was on one tire on a lap that took 70. It was a peaceful race.
“I think this forces a little more lottery. I think you need it on this kind of truck because you can’t overtake it. I’m looking forward to how different it is. I chose to have two hards. Charles chose to have two mediums.
Hamilton was asked if he played an influential role in determining strategies in the race, or if he left it to Ferrari to do so.
“We have to rely on our team because we don’t know where everyone is and we have to be patient so we don’t overtake ourselves. So I gave them two hard so hopefully we’ll give them a little more opportunity.”
Hamilton begins the race from seventh on the grid after being slapped in a third-place grid penalty for obstructing Max Verstappen in qualifying.
