Alexandre
The 2025 season of Formula 1 began with a particularly eventful Australian Grand Prix, marked by capricious weather and numerous twists and turns. For the Scuderia FerrariThe final result (5 points, thanks to 8th and 10th places respectively) fell well short of expectations. With Lewis Hamilton visibly frustrated by the conditions and Charles Leclerc taking responsibility for his mistakes, here are the two drivers' post-race reactions.
Hamilton: a difficult start at Ferrari
He has just joined the Italian team after a long career with Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton was hoping for a different scenario for his very first Grand Prix under the sign of the Prancing Horse. Alas, the heavy showers in Australia, the adjustment to a new single-seater and the lack of communication on strategy hampered his progress.
"It was really tough. One of the most difficult races I could have expected. Being in these conditions with this car, with a new power unit, with new engineers and a steering wheel with completely different functions, it was terrible. I expected better. At one point, we were fighting for the podium, but with the rain, everything got worse."
In addition to the rain, which intensified in the final sector, Hamilton regretted a lack of information about the ideal timing for switching back to intermediate tires:
"The rain intensified, especially in the last sector, but the rest of the track seemed dry. I knew some people had already passed the pits, but I didn't know it had started raining so hard in other parts of the circuit. Nobody told me. It was a bit of a missed opportunity."
However, the seven-time world champion concludes on a less alarmist note, Ferrari is "not that far away" from the competition, and the next meeting in China will be an opportunity to learn more.
Leclerc: a costly mistake, but no excuses
On his side, Charles Leclerc was expecting a better result on a track where he has often shone in the past. Despite a solid start that quickly moved him up to fifth place, the Monegasque found himself trapped by the rain at the end of the race. Victim of a spin at Turn 11 while on slicks, he lost several crucial places and finished eighth. Lucid, he didn't hide behind strategy or conditions:
"Today didn't go well, but before talking about team mistakes, I have to mention my own fault, which was the most significant. I lost the car at the exit of Turn 11 and dropped 4-5 positions. In the end, I could have finished third or fourth. Then we would have discussed the race differently."
Despite this, Leclerc believes that the SF-25 has potential, particularly in terms of top speed, and prefers to look ahead to the next race. He is aware that the Chinese Grand Prix, scheduled in a few days' time, is not the most favourable for Ferrari, but he says he is ready to work hard to avoid widening the gap with the leaders.