Hamilton Expresses Disappointment with Ferrari's Pace at Miami GP Qualifying

The mood at Ferrari following the Miami Grand Prix qualifying session was one of cautious optimism mixed with evident frustration, particularly for seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. While the team arrived with an upgraded package for the SF-24 car, the initial promise shown in practice and the sprint qualifying session seemed to evaporate when it mattered most.

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We actually don't know what to expect. I hoped it would be better, but the car didn't feel that good.

Hamilton, who secured seventh place on the grid, voiced his concerns about the car's unpredictable behavior. "We actually don't know what to expect. I hoped it would be better, but the car didn't feel that good," he admitted. The British driver expressed uncertainty about the effectiveness of the upgrades, stating, "I'm not sure. I think we expected to be stronger than what we showed today. We need to work overnight to understand why we weren't fast enough."

His teammate, Charles Leclerc, managed fourth place but also highlighted the team's struggles, particularly when switching to softer tires for the final qualifying phase. "The upgrades are good, it's just that all the teams also bring upgrades," Leclerc noted. He pointed out that while the medium tires performed well, the soft tires did not provide the expected grip or feel, leading to a significant performance drop. This inconsistency is a key area Ferrari intends to investigate.

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I'm not sure. I think we expected to be stronger than what we showed today. We need to work overnight to understand why we weren't fast enough.

The performance gap, especially compared to rivals like McLaren, which has shown significant recent improvements, and Mercedes, remains a concern. Hamilton had arrived in Miami with high hopes, anticipating a stronger showing. "I came here with high hopes, positive that we would be further ahead, but it seems it's not happening," he lamented. From a Malaysian perspective, as covered by Utusan Malaysia, the focus is on whether Ferrari can unlock the true potential of their upgrades and help Hamilton secure a strong finish in his final season with the team, especially given the competitive nature of the current Formula 1 season.

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The upgrades are good, it's just that all the teams also bring upgrades. We did expect a situation where Mercedes might still be the car to beat. McLaren has made big improvements. I think they haven't maximized potential in the first few races. They are always there, but not putting it all together. For our part, today specifically we struggled with the tires. The medium tires worked very well, but the soft tires didn't give a good feeling. So we need to look into it.