Lewis Hamilton says his topping of Friday apply on the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is an indication his Ferrari transition is shifting in the fitting path. Though cautioning towards studying an excessive amount of into his front-running tempo, the seven-time world champion was notably happy with the progress he stated he made by the day with Ferrari’s Brembo brakes, which have been a chief bugbear for him this season after years utilizing Carbon Industrie at Mercedes.
Hamilton has been battling for consistency in his first season with Ferrari, and Azerbaijan – a stronghold of teammate Charles Leclerc, who has gained 4 straight pole positions on the Baku avenue circuit – was tipped as a difficult spherical for his momentum. However it was Hamilton, not Leclerc, who ended the day quickest, beating the Monegasque to the top spot in FP2 by 0.074s.
“It actually has [been a positive day], thank the lord,” he stated. “I’d say P1 was a little bit of a multitude – this can be a circuit the place it’s a must to have mega confidence on the brakes, and I had some issues with the brakes. Then we made some modifications going into P2, and the brakes lastly had been working completely – I used to be capable of make some fast, large benefit when it comes to gaining on the brakes.
“I’m actually completely satisfied to see the progress. It simply goes to point out the path we’ve been going as a workforce. I’m actually, actually grateful for everybody’s persistence and everybody pushing so onerous, as a result of we’re actually beginning to see the progress come by.
“The help I’ve been coming back from everybody on the manufacturing facility, everybody right here – their persistence and their help each weekend simply lifting me up. After which the tifosi – we’ve been beaming from the vitality from the tifosi within the final race. I’m hoping to take that vitality that they gave us during the remainder of the season.”
It was a turnaround too on Hamilton’s downbeat look throughout his Thursday media duties, although the Briton cautioned towards studying an excessive amount of into his Friday bounce.
“It’s only a apply day,” he stated. “I’d say let’s not go too far.”
Leclerc’s been the grasp of Baku qualifying, however is aware of it would take some particular magic to increase his pole streak. Simon Galloway/Getty Pictures
Ferrari had the run of Baku by the tip of Friday, with Hamilton main the next-best George Russell in third by 0.477s, albeit with neither McLaren driver finishing a clear flying lap. Leclerc was optimistic that there was much more tempo within the Ferrari however warned there was but extra nonetheless to come back from the no-show Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
“I feel there’s much more potential, particularly coming from me – I didn’t do a terrific job in the present day – however total we appear to be fairly sturdy, so it’s good,” he stated.
“However – and there’s an enormous however – it seems to be like McLaren is in one other world actually, and I feel individuals will probably be very shocked tomorrow, as a result of Lando didn’t end some laps that had been very, very spectacular.
“I doubt we’ll be within the battle with them, however in comparison with the others, it appears we’re form of in a very good place.”
Even so, Leclerc – having taken the final 4 pole positions at this monitor in addition to a Dash pole in 2023 – isn’t keen to surrender utterly on his probabilities of a fifth successive P1 begin in Baku.
“I don’t assume there’s a battle for the win for now, however by no means say by no means,” he added. “I feel in 2021 and in lots of qualifyings right here I felt prefer it wasn’t attainable and on the finish we form of made it, so I’ll maintain my hopes excessive. However it seems to be unlikely.”
