Lewis Hamilton has signalled that he has “some ideas” about how Ferrari can resolve the team’s ongoing struggle to unlock one-lap pace from its 2025 Formula 1 car.
Ferrari’s continuous problems in qualifying over the opening seven rounds this season have compounded the issues that it has had with a recalcitrant SF-25 machine.
That was exposed at the previous race at Imola as the Italian marque endured embarrassment on home soil with both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc eliminated in Q2.
Hamilton’s spirited comeback drive in the race to recover eight places to fourth inspired him to lament his low grid position costing him a maiden podium with Ferrari.
And with track position set to remain critical in Monaco despite a new two-stop ruling, Ferrari maximising its prospects over a single lap will be even more imperative.
Hamilton, a winner on three occasions around the Monte Carlo streets, disclosed that he has some solutions in mind that he wishes to put into practice this weekend.
“I was in the simulator on Monday. I was there nice and early Monday morning,” Hamilton told media including Motorsport Week.
“It’s really incredible to see. Probably people don’t realise, but the engineers and mechanics, it does not stop.
“They go straight from the track, you go home Sunday night and they’re in the factory the next day. It just does not stop, they’re churning through the data.
“Yes, there’s lots of, lots of positives, as we said last weekend to take from it. There’s still areas that we need to improve on.
“Clearly, our qualifying has been our biggest weakness so far this year. We’re not extracting the performance from the tyres, and that’s something we are working on.
“I had some ideas, the team had some ideas. And so we’ll try those this weekend.
“It’s not the best place to try those things, but we will try to make a step, and qualifying, as you know, is everything here.
“It’s a natural progression. I’m feeling more at home in the team. Things work differently here.
“They’ve never had anyone like me here, and so it’s been challenging on both sides, but we’re really finding harmony, I think, in the way that we’re moving forwards.”
Hamilton relishing maiden Monaco weekend with Ferrari
Hamilton expressed that he was excited to tackle his debut Monaco Grand Prix with Ferrari, despite the anticipation that the circuit will expose the SF-25’s limitations.
“I’m still in that first year with this team, every weekend is something new, like the last weekend was the first time I’ve been into the European races, seeing the truck, finding my room, getting accustomed to a new layout,” he explained.
“And this weekend, walking into the garage, it’s all red, and that’s the first time I’ve been in Monaco.
“I’ve never been in the Ferrari garage at Monaco, always walked past it, always wondered what it like to be in the team. Still having to pinch myself – it’s awesome.
“And I have for years always wondered what a Ferrari would feel like around this track.
“Even my first year, I think the Ferraris were very strong, Felipe [Massa] and Kimi [Raikkonen] were very strong. And obviously Charles in the last few years has been rapid here.
“You can see the car works a lot different to what I had driven in the past. How that will reflect this weekend, I don’t know. I’m definitely excited to experience it.”
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