Australian Grand Prix
Venue: Albert Park, Melbourne Dates: 14 March-16 March Race begin: 04:00 GMT on Sunday, 16 March with first follow at 01:30 on Friday
Protection: Reside radio commentary of follow and qualifying on BBC 5 Sports activities Additional, race reside on BBC Radio 5 Reside. Reside textual content updates on the BBC Sport web site and app
Lewis Hamilton says he doesn’t really feel any strain to show himself as he begins his Ferrari profession on the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
The seven-time champion left Mercedes after 12 seasons by which they grew to become essentially the most profitable team-driver mixture in Formulation 1 historical past.
The 40-year-old Briton received six of his drivers’ titles between 2014 and 2020 however has received solely two races because the begin of the 2022 season.
Hamilton stated in Melbourne: “I’m underneath no assumptions will probably be straightforward. I do not really feel the strain. The surface strain is non-existent for me. The strain is from inside and what I need to obtain.
“I’m not right here to show something to anyone. I’ve accomplished it time and time once more. I do know what it takes to do a great job and that is what I need to ship, for myself, and my household, for this group that I actually imagine deserve success.
“They’re so pushed and possibly they haven’t had as a lot success as they want and deserve. Simply need to work in the direction of and contribute to doing it.”
Hamilton stated it “appears to be like like it will be shut” between Ferrari, McLaren, Pink Bull and Mercedes this season.
And he stated he nonetheless had work to do to carry out at his optimum at Ferrari, as a result of he was attending to grips with the group and automotive.
“I’m nonetheless studying this new automotive, which is quite a bit totally different to what I’ve pushed all by means of my profession,” Hamilton stated.
“Ferrari energy, in any case my profession with Mercedes, is a special really feel, totally different vibration.
“The earlier you possibly can carry out to a better degree, the higher, however inevitably there’s a transition interval and a basis that must be constructed. Relationships, belief with everybody. Respect is given however belief is one thing constructed over time.
“I’ve had some not-so-spectacular years and I’m making an attempt to verify I’ve a greater one, however there will probably be numerous components go into that.”
‘Mr Ferrari’ Leclerc ‘utterly superb’ with consideration on Hamilton
Hamilton is teamed with Charles Leclerc at Ferrari and stated he had been impressed by the 27-year-old’s “work ethic”.
“It isn’t too dissimilar to mine,” Hamilton stated. “Simply getting on with it. He’s very a lot Mr Ferrari and it has been actually cool to work alongside him.”
Leclerc joined Ferrari in 2019 and has been quicker than each his team-mates, Sebastian Vettel and Carlos Sainz. The Monaquese rejected any suggestion that he was “Mr Ferrari”.
“There is no such thing as a place for one explicit driver in Ferrari,” Leclerc stated. “Ferrari is larger than any drivers. And that has at all times been the case. That is what makes Ferrari so particular. There’s assist of the group and never one particular driver.
“Lewis is coming as a legend of the game so there may be much more consideration on him than me in the intervening time however I’m utterly superb with it. I utterly perceive that. It is regular it’s that means. It’s superb for me.”
Requested if he had given Hamilton any recommendation on integrating with Ferrari, Leclerc stated: “I actually do not assume Lewis wants any type of recommendation from me. I do know the surroundings greater than him however he has launched himself to the group completely and he already appears to be very a lot relaxed.
“It’s a lengthy course of, he’ll study the automotive and group extra. The recommendation I’ve given him to date is generally about meals. He is aware of if he wants something I’m right here to reply his questions, no issues. However he wants much less recommendation from me than I do from him.”
Hamilton joined Ferrari with the goal of successful a file eighth world title however Leclerc stated he, too, was decided to turn out to be champion.
“That is my one and solely goal and purpose and dream that is still to be ticked,” Leclerc stated. “I had fairly a number of goals rising up. One was to be an F1 driver, and to be a Ferrari driver, and to win Monza and Monaco, which I did. And now it is solely about being a world champion. That is my obsession.”
