Lewis Hamilton says he and Ferrari have “some ideas” to try and boost their single-lap performance ahead of the ever-crucial Monaco Grand Prix qualifying session this weekend.
Fresh from a morale-boosting run to fourth from 12th on the grid last week at Imola, Hamilton says he is “definitely excited” to experience driving a Ferrari around the world-famous street circuit for the first time.
“There’s lots of positives from last weekend but there’s still areas that we need to improve on,” said Hamilton, whose best Grand Prix qualifying result so far in his debut Ferrari season is fifth.
“Clearly qualifying has been our biggest problem so far this year. We’re not extracting the performance from the tyres, and that’s something we are working on.
“I have some ideas, the team have some ideas, and we’ll try those this weekend.
“It’s not the best place to try those things, but we’ll try to make a step and qualifying is everything here [in Monaco].”
Both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were eliminated from Q2 at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix as Ferrari’s problems intensified during qualifying
Hamilton is now four months and seven Grand Prix weekends into his blockbuster new career at Ferrari.
A Sprint pole and win on his second appearance in China aside, the high-profile union between F1’s most successful driver and team has not yet hit the kind of heights expected with Ferrari’s form largely disappointing so far.
But Hamilton has continued to stress that both building his understanding with his new car, and his working relationship with the team, will take time – a process he continues to see improvement in.
“It’s a natural progression,” he said.
“I’m feeling more at home, with a new team, things work differently here, they’ve never had anyone like me here, so it’s been challenging on both sides.
“But we’re really finding harmony I think in the way that we’re moving forward, and that’s a hope that starts to reflect on the rest of the season.”
Hamilton ‘excited’ to drive a Ferrari in Monaco
Hamilton reflects on the opening six races of the season with new team Ferrari ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
The 40-year-old is racing in the Monaco GP for the 18th time this weekend but, a little unusually for the sport’s record-breaking driver, only three of Hamilton’s 105 F1 race wins have come in the Principality, F1’s traditional blue-riband event.
The Briton first won the race with McLaren in 2008, before adding two more with Mercedes in 2016 and 2019.
But while Hamilton did not qualifiy higher than fifth on his final four Monaco appearances with Mercedes, registering a best race finish of fourth in that time, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has claimed three of the last four Principality poles and last year finally won his home race for the first time.
“I have for years always wondered what a Ferrari would feel like around this track,” admitted Hamilton.
“Even my first year [2007] I think the Ferraris were very strong. Charles in the last few years has been rapid here.
“You can see the car works a lot different to what I’ve driven in the past, how that reflects me, I don’t know, I’m definitely excited to experience it.”
Sky Sports F1’s Monaco GP schedule
Look back at some of the most dramatic moments to have taken place at the Monaco Grand Prix
Friday May 23
10am: F3 Qualifying
12pm: Monaco GP Practice One (session starts at 12.30pm)
2.05pm: F2 Qualifying
3pm: F1 Team Bosses’ Press Conference
3.45pm: Monaco GP Practice Two (session starts at 4pm)
5.15pm: The F1 Show
Saturday May 24
9.40am: F3 Sprint
11.15am: Monaco GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am)
1.10pm: F2 Sprint
2.10pm: Monaco GP Qualifying build-up
3pm: MONACO GP QUALIFYING
5pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday May 25
6.55am: F3 Feature Race
8.35am: F2 Feature Race
12.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Monaco GP build-up*
2pm: The MONACO GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Chequered Flag: Monaco GP reaction
5pm: Ted’s Notebook
5.30pm: The Indy 500
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
Next up in F1’s European triple-header is the ‘Jewel in the Crown’, the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend, with coverage starting on Friday live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
This news was originally published on this post .
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