Lewis Hamilton\u2019s preparations for his Formula 1 debut with Ferrari were expensive. He reported to their Maranello factory for the first time on 20 January.<\/p>\n
In the weeks that followed, he conducted two tests in the 2023 car, one at Fiorano and one at Barcelona, to familiarise himself with the team\u2019s process. He also took the SF-25 around the team\u2019s private test track.<\/p>\n
Hamilton\u2019s work ethic has been praised<\/a> this year. Former teammate Nico Rosberg has heard that the seven-time world champion is \u2018pushing like crazy\u2019 behind the scenes. <\/p>\n Unfortunately, this has yet to show up in his results. Hamilton<\/a> hasn\u2019t scored a Grand Prix podium in his first 14 races and still looks fundamentally uncomfortable in the Ferrari car after 12 years at Mercedes.<\/p>\n Lewis Hamilton only had access to limited set-ups in Ferrari simulator<\/p>\n According to Gazzetta dello Sport<\/a>, Ferrari\u2019s new pull-rod front suspension improved precision on corner entry. However, it also led to increased understeer through \u2018more twisty sections\u2019 on certain tracks.<\/p>\n That, in turn, led Ferrari<\/a> to dial up the steering sensitivity. Hamilton hoped he could find a happy medium in the team\u2019s Maranello simulator.<\/p>\n But he found that he could only use a \u2018limited number\u2019 of base set-ups, having planned to trial a wide range of configurations. As a result, he isn\u2019t able to fully anticipate exactly how various tweaks will alter the car\u2019s behaviour.<\/p>\n The theory is that his set-ups haven\u2019t been \u2018optimal\u2019 for the car\u2019s aerodynamic balance, but \u2018obstacles\u2019 behind the scenes could explain why. Hamilton has sent documents of feedback to Ferrari<\/a> across the last eight months, and one of his recommendations may be an upgrade to their simulator technology.<\/p>\n Ayrton Senna\u2019s former manager gave Lewis Hamilton advice in Hungary<\/p>\n