Swearing Hamilton misses out on win in Ferrari debut

Pushed to the point of exasperation over two gut-wrenching hours in the wet and wind of Albert Park, Lewis Hamilton was in a state of shock as an unlikely victory on his debut for Ferrari slipped through his fingers at the season-opening Australian

- KIERAN JACKSON

Grand Prix. Instead, it was title favourite Lando Norris who stamped the first mark of 24 this season.

As the dark clouds circled once more and late rain played havoc with frontrunners Norris and Oscar Piastri, Ferrari opted to keep Hamilton out as the intensity of the rain increased, while most of the field pitted. A subsequent safety car, with thenleader Hamilton being held up in slow traffic before eventually pitting for intermediate wet tyres, meant the Briton dropped towards the back of the pack, and the pain in his voice was palpable. The 40-year-old ultimately finished 10th, taking just one point from an underwhelming weekend.

Hamilton swore over the team radio when he was told of his new position, and said to new race engineer Riccardo Adami: “We missed a big opportunity.” Hamilton had struggled to communicate with the Italian engineer Adami – Carlos Sainz’s old engineer – earlier in the race, repeatedly instructing Adami to “leave me to it”. The teething problems were plain to see.