P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Lewis Hamilton has not had the easiest opening half of the year since joining the Ferrari F1 team. But what is behind his struggles?
Lewis Hamilton’s struggle to adapt to life at Ferrari in the first half of the season led him to submit detailed documents to the engineers for necessary modifications.
The notes addressed various aspects like working methods, inter-departmental communication, and race weekend strategies that Hamilton felt needed adjustments for future races.
Technical factors were also highlighted, specifically linked to the car’s setup and customization to suit Hamilton’s requirements from the beginning of the season.
One of the initial changes focused on adjusting Hamilton’s driving position, particularly the pedals, to match his braking preferences.
Although the pedal modification was successful structurally, it posed challenges for Ferrari due to complexities related to engine braking, which was unfamiliar to Hamilton in his time at Mercedes.
Calibrating the engine braking is possible, but it remains a peculiar feature that might have been underestimated in Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari.
