Lewis Hamilton likened resolving brake problems on his Ferrari to a “lottery” after “two of the tiniest” changes on his car led to a Practice Two struggle at the Italian team’s home Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
Driving in front of the team’s famous Tifosi fans on a race weekend in Italy for the first time since joining Ferrari, Hamilton’s day appeared to start promisingly when he finished within a tenth of the pacesetting McLarens in fifth place on the Practice One timesheet.
But the second session proved altogether trickier as Hamilton posted only the 11th-quickest lap in a hour of running in which the seven-time champion was heard expressing frustration with his car’s brakes several times over team radio.
“P1 was good,” said Hamilton.
“I was really, really happy with the car in P1 and it felt like we had made a step forward and I was feeling really positive.
“I literally changed two of the tiniest things that shouldn’t have had barely any effect at all, the smallest change we’ve probably done this year, and we then had some brake issues that then made a massive difference so that was then a fight with that.
“That’s been quite a big issue all year, actually. I’ve never experienced that before, so that’s a new thing for me this year.”
Hamilton wasn’t best pleased after almost crashing into the back of the Racing Bulls
Confirming that the issue was not related to him continuing to get used to the different brake material that Ferrari use compared to Mercedes, his previous team of 12 years, Hamilton replied “no” when asked if Friday’s problem could be resolved ahead of Saturday’s running.
He then added: “It’s a lottery. We will roll the dice and you put one on and it works and then you put another on and it doesn’t, and we’ll see.
“I hope tomorrow we figure something out, we’re working on it for sure.”
Highlights from Friday’s practice sessions at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
Team-mate Charles Leclerc had finished 0.4s slower than Hamilton in the opening session, but was just under two tenths faster than the Briton on the way to the sixth-quickest time of Practice Two.
More to follow…
Sky Sports F1’s Emilia Romagna GP Schedule
Saturday May 17
9am: F3 Sprint
11:15am: Emilia Romagna GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am)
1.10pm: F2 Sprint
2.10pm: Emilia Romagna GP Qualifying build-up
3pm: EMILIA ROMAGNA GP QUALIFYING*
5pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Look back at some of the most dramatic moments to have taken place at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix
Sunday May 18
7.25am: F3 Feature Race
8.55am: F2 Feature Race
12:30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Emilia Romagna GP build-up
2pm: The EMILIA ROMAGNA GRAND PRIX
4pm: Chequered Flag: Emilia Romagna GP reaction
5pm: Ted’s Notebook
*Also live on Sky Sports Main Event
F1’s European season begins with the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix this weekend, 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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