'I thought I was further along' - Hamilton's admission after Ferrari struggle

Lewis Hamilton has admitted he thought he was "further along" in his adjustment to driving for Ferrari after qualifying in eighth for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

The seven-time world champion joined the Italian team after 12 seasons with Mercedes and had repeatedly stated ahead of his first campaign with Ferrari that he would need time to adjust.

However, he admitted after Saturday's display at Albert Park that his first race weekend sessions in the SF-25 have been even more difficult than anticipated.

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Hamilton said: "I honestly thought I was further along than I was and then I got here for P1, and I was like, 'I still got a way to go.'

"There's still a ton of tools that I'm still not there on."

Hamilton's own challenge was made more difficult by the fact that Ferrari, having looked like McLaren's main competitors on Friday, dropped off the pace on Saturday.

The reigning constructors' champions claimed a front-row lockout as Lando Norris beat Oscar Piastri, while Hamilton shares the fourth row with his team-mate Charles Leclerc, who could only manage seventh.

Hamilton's individual struggles were highlighted by the fact he had to use an extra set of soft tyres to get through Q1 and was then somewhat fortunate to advance from Q2 after spinning in the closing stages.

The 40-year-old referenced his former Mercedes race engineer Peter 'Bono' Bonnington as he explained the struggles he had in adjusting the setup of his car.

He said: "When you have a problem in the car and you come in, normally when you've got the experience, you can say, 'Hey, this is where I want to go with it.'

"But I don't know which tools to use at the moment. I'm heavily reliant, for the first time, on my engineers.

"They've done a great job but in the past I would say, 'Bono, this is what I want. That setting, this setting.' And I can't do that at the moment."

Hamilton admits surprise at Ferrari lack of pace

Hamilton admitted that he was surprised by Ferrari's overall lack of pace, which saw them finish behind Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Mercedes' George Russell, but more surprisingly Williams' Alex Albon and Racing Bulls' Yuki Tsunoda.

He told Sky Sports F1: "I definitely didn't know that we'd be eight tenths off today but there is a lot to dissect for sure."

The biggest consolation Hamilton could take from his first qualifying session in red was that he ultimately finished only a couple of tenths back from Leclerc, who had appeared to hold a bigger advantage over him for most of practice.

On the gap, Hamilton said: "Charles has been in this team for seven years, he knows this car in and out. Not necessarily the new one but the general characteristics of our cars and all the tools and everything.

"I'm still learning those so to be that close in my first qualifying session, I'll definitely take it. We'll just get our heads down and start working trying to find out why we're not on pace with the front-runners."

Leclerc also said he was surprised by the way Ferrari's pace fell away on Saturday.

He told Sky Sports F1: "Yes, I am. Not totally surprised with the feeling I got in Q3 but surprised overall after a day like we had (on Friday) where everything went smoothly.

"The car felt pretty OK but Q3 I found myself with a different car and I don't really know why. We've got to look into it."

Vasseur: We can't be satisfied with qualifying result

Leclerc's seventh and Hamilton's eighth means Ferrari have suffered their worst qualifying result at a season-opener since 2020.

"Obviously, we can't be satisfied with today's qualifying result. We didn't look too bad in Q1 and Q2, as we were one-to-two tenths off the McLarens," said team principal Frederic Vassuer.

"However, in Q3 we didn't do a good job because we didn't manage to run at the same pace as our opponents, and as a result, we find ourselves in positions that do not reflect our true potential.

"Tomorrow's race could be a completely different scenario, as our pace was good yesterday and the forecast is for rain. The points are handed out tomorrow and we must do a good job now, preparing every last detail.

"I really believe we have the potential to bring home plenty of points."

Sky Sports F1's live Australian GP schedule

Sunday March 16

• 12.25am: F2 Feature Race*
• 2.30am: Australian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
• 4am: THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX*
• 6am: Australian GP reaction: Chequered Flag*
• 7am: Ted's Notebook*
• 7.55am: Australian GP race replay
• 10am: Australian GP highlights (also on Sky Showcase)
• 7pm: Villeneuve Pironi - Racing's Untold Tragedy

*Also on Sky Sports Main Event

Watch all 24 race weekends from the 2025 Formula 1 season live on Sky Sports F1, starting with the Australian GP on Sunday. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - No contract, cancel anytime