- The seven -time champion was more than two tenths behind Charles Leclerc
- He even admitted that he does not know where his wet change is in his new Ferrari
- The race in Melbourne is expected to be affected by the downpours
Lewis Hamilton has admitted surprisingly that he does not even know where the wet change is in his new Ferrari ahead of what is forecast to be a Rain-DOUSED Australia Grand Prix.
The seven -time world champion described a disappointing eighth in its first competitive exit in the red car from its £ 50 million per year of Mercedes.
Hamilton was more than two tenths of a teammate Charles Leclerc, seventh in the network that sees McLaren by enclosing the front row with Lando Norris in Pole and Melburnian Oscar Piestri next to him.
Max Verstappen begins the third, and may need the rain to launch his defense of the title with the victory.
As for Hamilton and Ferrari, they suffered the ignominy of the qualification not only to George Russell de Mercedes, fourth, but also Alex Albon by Yuki Tsunoda and Alex Albon de Williams of Bulls.
Hamilton was strangely cheerful when he talked about the unfortunate afternoon of his new team, saying: 'I have never driven the car in the wet. I don't even know where the wet switch is. I don't know what buttons I have to change, so it will be new. We are using Brembo brakes, which I have not used since it was much younger.
Lewis Hamilton admitted that he was learning on the march with Ferrari after qualifying the eighth
The seven -time world champion survived a turn during the second session in Melbourne
It ended more than two tenths behind Charles Leclerc but gave a positive tone
'What configuration will I have to use with this car? Everything is different.
'When you describe eighth, you expect it to be wet, but for me I have three laps to learn the car in wet, and then I have to go out and run.
'The wet has often been something that I have enjoyed. Growing up in the United Kingdom, it has been a comfort zone for me. But for the first time in wet I will be in an awkward position. It will be a shock for the system when it comes out. I will learn about the fly and give everything.
In truth, Hamilton has had a disappointing start on his unavailable trips during a race weekend, surpassed by Leclerc for two and six tenths in three practice and qualification sessions.
Ferrari's official line is that his stars firm is up to date, feeling his new team, and that everything will be fine at the end.
Hamilton added: 'I just be improving every return, session. It has been a great learning curve this weekend. The car felt very different from what I have experienced here.
'If we look at high speed, I have been down the whole weekend with Charles, who had it from the beginning because he knew what the car does. For me, I approached and I am happy to be so close to Charles in my first classification session against a large qualifier.
When asked about the process of understanding his Ferrari, the 40 -year -old added: 'I thought he was later than me. I arrived at P1, and I was as if I still have a long way to go. I don't know what tool to use at this time, so I trust my engineers for the first time.
“In the past, I would say that I want this configuration, that configuration, and I cannot do that at this time.”