Lewis Hamilton is still struggling to get to grips with his Ferrari car, and after spinning in sprint qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix, his issues with the vehicle have now been revealed.
The seven-time world champion made the blockbuster switch from Mercedes to Ferrari for this season. He left the Silver Arrows after 12 years with the team to fulfil his dream of racing in red.
That dream has not gone as well as many would have hoped coming into the season. As the F1 circus approaches the midway point of the season, the only positives Hamilton has from his time with the team so far are in China with a sprint pole and win in March.
His issues with the car were compounded this weekend at the Belgian Grand Prix as he spun on his final run in sprint qualifying, locking his rear brakes and qualifying 18th.
Reuters
|Lewis Hamilton has not had the first half of the season he had been hoping for
Ferrari Ambassador Marc Gene has revealed what the Briton has been struggling with in his SF-25.
"The only thing now that really bothers him a lot is the instability. Charles probably can cope with it. But, believe me, I’m in the briefings, and there are a lot of positives, but still not fully," he said.
"There are still areas that we need to give him a car that he feels more comfortable in and can push straight away, and can do a proper weekend.”
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Qualifying for Hamilton has not been his strong suit over the last few years, and the instability of his new SF-25 has caused more issues for the Briton.
Former Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg also had his say on the turbulent season his former rival is having.
"He’s a seven-time world champion, so you definitely have to listen to what he is telling you. But it also takes time. Many of the things, they cannot just change them overnight," said the German.
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Reuters
|The Briton has been struggling with the instability of his Ferrari
"If the brakes are an issue, it’s a long lead time to develop a new brake system. Or if he’s not happy with the balance, it’s a really long process.
"In many senses, he will be thinking about next year already with some of the things that he’s talking about.
"I think it’s a good sign though that we’re hearing that Lewis is pushing. He’s not resigned and giving up, but really pushing the team, the owners, the team boss hard."
Hamilton also had a dismal qualifying for the main Grand Prix, after getting a lap time that would have seen him comfortably through chalked off, meaning he will now start the Grand Prix from 16th.
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The Briton won the Grand Prix in Belgium last year with Mercedes. However, it appears unlikely he will be able to repeat that feat this season.
Hamilton currently sits down in seventh in the drivers standings, over 20 points behind his team-mate Charles Leclerc in fifth. With the summer break coming after the Grand Prix on Sunday, the Briton will be hoping to get on top of the instability issues that have plagued his SF-25.