Lewis Hamilton‘s Saturday at COTA concluded on a high note, with the seven-time world champion securing fifth position for the F1 US GP qualifying after a challenging start to the weekend. Speaking about Ferrari’s performance swing, Hamilton revealed the changes that transformed the Scuderia’s fortunes in Austin.
The British driver’s weekend began disappointingly, with an eighth-place finish in Sprint qualifying leaving Ferrari scratching their heads. However, things turned around for the Scuderia during the Grand Prix qualifying session, as Hamilton claimed the third row, whilst teammate Charles Leclerc claimed an impressive third position.
Reflecting on the session, Hamilton noted, “I definitely had a tenth within the lap. We made some improvements in terms of our processes going into this qualifying session. We tried something different, and it really, really worked.”
The Brit praised the team for being open to changes, explaining that he had struggled with oversteer in the previous qualifying session, followed by understeer in this one. He adjusted the front wing, adding about eight holes, and while the changes only fully worked on his last run, he felt that having them earlier would have boosted his confidence.
Hamilton elaborated on these procedural refinements, explaining the subtle elements that contributed to Ferrari’s improved execution.
“It’s just how we execute the session. It’s how we communicate. It’s how we… It’s the calm approach. It’s the timing that we go out. It’s the temperature and the time. It’s all those sorts of things. We just executed it much better.”
Learning from the Sprint
Ferrari used the Sprint as a valuable testing opportunity, with both drivers experimenting with different set-ups. They managed to gather crucial data, which could prove vital for Sunday’s main race.
“I definitely learned a bit more about when to put the car down. Just in general today, I learned a bit more about when to put the car down. Overall, I’ve been pretty happy throughout the weekend.”
The 19-lap race demonstrated Ferrari’s stronger race pace compared to their qualifying performance, offering genuine optimism for Sunday’s battle. Hamilton acknowledged qualifying wasn’t his strongest showing but remained philosophical about the progress made.
“I think qualifying, I wasn’t as strong as I’d been all weekend. As I said, I had massive understeer. I just had to add too much lock, and it killed the tyres.”
Hamilton hopes to claim his first Grand Prix podium
Looking ahead to Sunday’s race, Hamilton acknowledged the challenge that lies ahead for Ferrari’s podium hopes. Still searching for his first podium of the season, and his first with Ferrari. He’s hopeful that COTA could be the place where it finally happens. However, he remains realistic, knowing that his rivals will make the fight anything but easy.
“I think I’ve got to get past George tomorrow. That’s key. They’re fast, as always. He was giving Max pressure, so they’re always around.”
The Briton also addressed Ferrari’s development disadvantage, with the Scuderia having ceased upgrades following the Belgian GP in late July. Whereas, Mercedes and Red Bull have continued bringing improvements, making Ferrari’s competitive position particularly impressive.
“But those guys have had upgrades. So Red Bull and, I don’t know about McLaren, but I know Mercedes, they had an upgrade in the recent [races], which we haven’t. So for us to be where we are, given that’s the case, I’m really grateful.”
Hamilton expressed confidence in Ferrari’s race set-up, suggesting the car balance should improve for Sunday’s longer stint.
“I think the car balance should be better tomorrow. So I’m hoping we can fight for it.”
Hamilton admits he’s still adjusting to his new team
Reflecting on his maiden season with the Prancing Horse, Hamilton spoke emotionally about the experience of joining the Italian outfit.
“It’s special to be in a Ferrari everywhere you go. I’m still in that first season where there’s… No one understands how steep a learning curve it is when you’re joining a new team, let alone Ferrari. Because it’s a big, big machine, it’s a big, big team. Lots and lots of moving parts.”
Despite the challenges inherent in adapting to Ferrari’s complex structure, Hamilton remains optimistic about the trajectory of his partnership with Maranello. The progress made between Friday and Saturday at COTA bodes well for Sunday.
“But I think I’m coming out in a good [shape]… Like the tunnel things are getting better. We’re progressing as a team. I feel really optimistic about. I still believe I’m going to save this one as a team. That’s what I am working on in the background.”
Ferrari will be aiming for a strong performance on Sunday, hoping to close the gap to Mercedes in the race for second place in the standings. Recently, Red Bull has been catching up, with Ferrari now only 7 points ahead. A solid result tomorrow is crucial if they want to maintain their position in the fight for second.
