Lewis Hamilton has said that he has “enjoyed driving” his Ferrari at this weekend’s Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, comparing the differences to driving for Mercedes.
Hamilton has been suffering with the troublesome SF-25 over the course of this season so far, but it appears the car’s lack of performance in low-speed corners has, to a large extent, been eradicated this weekend.
Despite being four tenths off Lando Norris’ pole time, and around three tenths off of team-mate Charles Leclerc’s, Hamilton was able to put in an impressive showing, more so given he had crashed late on in FP3.
Hamilton had said after earlier rounds that he was finding to adapt to the SF-25 difficult, even at one stage saying it felt “alien” to him.
But speaking to media, including Motorsport Week, after qualifying, the seven-time World Champion said that he is finally getting to grips with the car, which is a far different beast than what he was used to at Mercedes.
“I’m definitely getting there, yeah,” he said, “definitely feel the last race was a really good step, and then coming into this weekend, I’ve definitely felt more at one with the car. I think it’s a much, much different car driving here than I’ve had for the last 12 years, but one I’ve really enjoyed driving.
“Obviously Charles has been driving this car [with] the way they set the car up here for the last six years, so he hits the ground and he knows it like the back of his hand. I would say this weekend has been a quick, steep learning curve, but I was quite happy with the recovery from the crash.”
Ferrari ‘characteristics’ a long way from past Mercedes cars
Hamilton has been handed a three-place grid penalty after initially ending qualifying in fourth, but prior, he said that he “really [liked] driving this car” around the mighty street circuit, adding he “[knows] what to expect” from it.
When asked to expand on the differences between the SF-25 and the Mercedes cars he had driven for the last 12 years, Hamilton put it down to different setups forcing upon him areas of driving he is not used to.
“It’s hard to explain, it’s just the characteristics through corners, through corner balance, rides, it’s a lot different, how soft the car is,” he said.
“When I was at Mercedes the car was very stiff, it was running quite stiff loads to get the downforce as well…like everything’s different.
“Cambers, everything’s different…the way the engine behaves, engine braking – I don’t think I’ve ever used engine braking before, it’s the first time. All these different components that you’re thrown in, it takes a bit to get used to it, but I think I was enjoying it.”
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