Lewis Hamilton says his topping of Friday apply on the Azerbaijan Grand Prix is an indication his Ferrari transition is transferring in the correct path. Though cautioning in opposition to studying an excessive amount of into his front-running tempo, the seven-time world champion was notably happy with the progress he mentioned he made by way of 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 road circuit – was tipped as a difficult spherical for his momentum. Nevertheless it was Hamilton, not Leclerc, who ended the day quickest, beating the Monegasque to the highest spot in FP2 by 0.074s.
“It actually has [been a positive day], thank the lord,” he mentioned. “I’d say P1 was a little bit of a multitude – it is a circuit the place it’s important to have mega confidence on the brakes, and I had some issues with the brakes. Then we made some adjustments going into P2, and the brakes lastly have been working completely – I used to be in a position to make some fast, huge benefit by way of gaining on the brakes.
“I’m actually glad to see the progress. It simply goes to indicate the path we’ve been going as a staff. I’m actually, actually grateful for everybody’s endurance and everybody pushing so onerous, as a result of we’re actually beginning to see the progress come by way of.
“The help I’ve been coming back from everybody on the manufacturing facility, everybody right here – their endurance and their help each weekend simply lifting me up. After which the tifosi – we’ve been beaming from the power from the tifosi within the final race. I’m hoping to take that power that they gave us right through the remainder of the season.”
It was a turnaround too on Hamilton’s downbeat look throughout his Thursday media duties, although the Briton cautioned in opposition to studying an excessive amount of into his Friday bounce.
“It’s only a apply day,” he mentioned. “I might say let’s not go too far.”
Leclerc’s been the grasp of Baku qualifying, however is aware of it’s going to take some particular magic to increase his pole streak. Simon Galloway/Getty Pictures
Ferrari had the run of Baku by the top 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 believe there’s much more potential, particularly coming from me – I didn’t do an incredible job right now – however general we appear to be fairly robust, so it’s good,” he mentioned.
“However – and there’s a giant however – it appears to be like like McLaren is in one other world actually, and I believe individuals will probably be very stunned tomorrow, as a result of Lando didn’t end some laps that have 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 observe in addition to a Dash pole in 2023 – isn’t prepared to surrender utterly on his probabilities of a fifth successive P1 begin in Baku.
“I don’t suppose there’s a battle for the win for now, however by no means say by no means,” he added. “I believe in 2021 and in lots of qualifyings right here I felt prefer it wasn’t doable and on the finish we form of made it, so I’ll hold my hopes excessive. Nevertheless it appears to be like unlikely.”
