Lewis Hamilton has admitted that Ferrari has not been able to recapture the magic set-up that propelled him to a sprint race victory in Shanghai earlier this season.
The seven-time world champion took pole and won the sprint in China, showing a glimpse of his potential in red. However, that performance proved difficult to replicate in the grand prix that followed – or in any weekend since.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix, Hamilton remains realistic about the Scuderia’s challenges while expressing optimism about the SF-25’s potential.
As the Briton continues to adapt to life at Ferrari, F1’s round of racing in the glitzy Principality offers a fresh chance to harness his car’s capabilities on a track where the Italian outfit has historically excelled.
“The direction that I pushed the car and the set-up worked well in China,” Hamilton told Sky Sports. “And then we had to pull back on some things and we’ve not been able to get there since."
The challenge, Hamilton said, comes down to fundamental handling characteristics — specifically, rear-end stability, a hallmark of any championship-contending car.
“It’s always the same thing. If you go down there the pit lane probably everyone wants more rear [grip]. The more rear you have, the faster you go.
“All the years that I won, if you look all the years of all the successful drivers, they have a stable rear end and that’s what we need to work towards.”
While Hamilton's transition to Ferrari has been full of iconic imagery and renewed excitement, the Briton remains grounded about the work still to be done. He insists the ingredients are all there – but combining them consistently is proving elusive.
“The fact is, I think we do have a good car when everything comes together,” he said.
“That’s tyre temperatures, when we’re getting the best out of the tyres, getting the best out the floor, front wing and out of the engine and of the drivers and we’re comfortable and we feel confident.
“You’ve seen moments [like] China, you’ve seen Charles getting onto the podium. So clearly there is potential there. But tapping into it each weekend is really, really difficult.
“Consistency is key. Processes are really key. And there’s areas that we’re just not great in at the moment and we’ve got to improve on all areas.
“Everything needs to improve across the whole board. I need to improve, everybody needs to improve and that’s what we’re working on.”
Still adjusting to life in red, Hamilton is savouring the small firsts as he builds his identity within the House of Maranello..
“Every weekend is something new,” he said. “Like last weekend was the first time I've been to a European race, seeing the truck, finding my room, getting accustomed to a new layout.
“This weekend walking into the garage it's all red, it's the first time I've been in Monaco… I’ve never been in the Ferrari garage in Monaco. I’ve always walked past it, I always wondered what it'd be like to be in the team. I just didn't see it until now and it’s awesome.”
Despite the unknowns, one thing is certain – Hamilton is relishing the challenge.
“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. 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 reflects this weekend I don't know but I'm definitely excited to experience it.”
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