F1 news: Lewis Hamilton stands firm in Ferrari faith as team moves past disqualification drama
After a week’s break following round 2 in Shanghai, Formula 1 is back with its first triple header of the season.
First stop: Japan. Despite China’s setbacks, Lewis Hamilton remains steadfast in his belief in the team’s potential.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Noah Ngcobo takes a look at Ferrari’s mindset as they head to Suzuka.
Ferrari faces a setback in China
As F1 heads to Suzuka for the Japanese GP, the fallout from Ferrari’s double disqualification in China remains a talking point.
However, both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have expressed confidence in the team’s ability to bounce back, emphasising resilience and a commitment to improvement.
Ferrari’s Chinese Grand Prix weekend was a rollercoaster of emotions.
While Hamilton secured victory in the sprint race, the team faced disappointment in the main event when both he and Leclerc were disqualified due to technical infringements.
Leclerc’s car was found to be underweight, while Hamilton’s suffered from excessive skid wear. Despite the setback, the seven-time world champion is unwavering in his belief in the team.
Hamilton’s faith in Ferrari remains unshaken
“I saw someone suggest that I might be losing faith in Ferrari, which is complete nonsense,” Hamilton asserted.
“I have absolute 100% trust in this team. The start of the season came with a lot of hype, but I never expected to be winning races immediately.
“This is a process, and I knew that joining a new team and adapting to a different culture would take time.”
Vasseur explains the disqualification
Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur shed light on the reasons behind Leclerc’s disqualification, suggesting that a leaking water bottle contributed to the weight discrepancy.
He also emphasised how fine margins define success in Formula 1.
“The key to F1 is to push every parameter to its limit - whether it’s weight, aerodynamics, or mechanical components.
“When you’re fighting at the front, you have to take risks,” he explained.
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Leclerc looks to the future
Leclerc admitted that the disqualification was painful, as the team lost valuable points, but he remains optimistic. “It hurt us a lot, but we can still have an incredible season,” he said.
“Last year, we started off in a worse position, and by maximising every opportunity, we ended up fighting for the championship.
“We know we haven’t capitalised on our potential in the first two races, but there’s a long way to go.”
Hamilton’s adaptation to Ferrari
For Hamilton, the transition to Ferrari has been a learning curve.
With limited pre-season running, he has had to adapt on the fly, particularly in understanding how the car behaves on different compounds.
“Every team operates differently. McLaren was different from Mercedes, and Ferrari is different again.
“I’ve spent the last couple of months observing, understanding the car’s nuances, and figuring out where I can contribute.
“There are definitely areas we need to elevate, but Fred has a great approach, and I know we have everything we need to succeed.”
Ferrari’s determination to fight back
Despite their current struggles, Ferrari remains determined to fight back.
With the long and demanding season ahead, both Hamilton and Leclerc are confident that the team can recover lost ground.
As they prepare for Suzuka, the focus is on fine-tuning performance and ensuring that technical setbacks do not hinder their progress again.
The challenge is steep, but for Ferrari, the journey is just beginning.
