Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur said that he was in “absolutely undoubtedly” that Lewis Hamilton would be ready to “act and appear” after his star, who was signed fifth for the Australian Grand Prix of the season opening.
Four hundreds six days after his shock was announced from Mercedes to Ferrari, Hamilton finally made his highly excited debut for Ferrari in Melbourne.
Before the first training sessions of the new season in the new season-over the payment and overhaul of George Russell last year and with only two victories consisting of his last 69 appearances, it insisted that he did not feel the pressure of a transfer, which was invoiced as the largest in the 75-year history of sport.
The 40-year-old ended the first one-hour meeting in Albert Park Down in 12th and complained that he had difficulty turning the car before he later improved to the fifth day, albeit 0.420 seconds behind the new teammate Charles Leclerc, who was running the way.
“You cannot conclude after the first training session,” said Ferrari team director Vasseur to defend the seven-time world champion.
“I have absolutely no doubt that Lewis will soon appear and occur.
“In the course of the year we have something like 150 exercise sessions, so this is only the beginning of history. It is a process that we have to follow and we are on this way.
“We know that we have a long way in front of us and we took a good step compared to last year. I have a good feeling. “
The evidence of the pre-season test before the last month in Bahrain seemed to indicate that McLaren and Ferrari would beat the 24-round campaign as teams. And the practice in a sun -injured Albert Park did this theory with the drivers from both sides that occupied four of the first five locations.
Home Favorite Oscar Piatri finished 0.124 seconds behind Leclerc. Piatri’s teammate Lando Norris, who was charged as the favorite of the pre-season championship, exceeded the opening session. However, he had to settle with third place later in the day, 0.141 seconds before Leclerc’s pace.
Max Verstappen is won for a fifth title in a row, but he seemed to have trust in his Red Bull in sixth, 0.624 seconds behind Leclerc.
Liam Lawson in the other Red Bull was only 17.
The British teenager Ollie Bearman was not able to complete a round in the second training session after crashing from the opening.
Bearman performed three appearances last season – one for Ferrari and two for Haas – to bring a promotion to the network this year as one of six newcomers in 2025.
However, Bearman landed in the wall for 22 minutes before the gravel after walking through the gravel at the end of round 10. The right wall tore off his Haas, with the right tire in front being crumpled under his machine.
“I’m sorry,” said the 19-year-old on the radio before emerging from his cockpit after the high-speed accident.
Bearan’s mechanics spent the next few hours to repair his car, but they could not prepare it for the final action of the day.