Lewis Hamilton faced a tumultuous and frustrating debut with Ferrari at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, where a late rain shower and a strategic error cost him a chance at an unexpected victory. The seven-time world champion was visibly upset after the team opted to keep him on slick tyres while most of the leading competitors switched to intermediates, a choice that ultimately resulted in his significant drop in position.

As rain disrupted the final laps, Ferrari's decision to leave Hamilton on track backfired when a subsequent safety car left him caught in slow-moving traffic.

When he finally entered the pits for wet tyres, the British driver returned to the race in ninth place, clearly frustrated. He expressed his discontent over the team radio, stating, “We missed a big opportunity,” shortly after discovering his new standing.

Lando Norris took advantage of the tumultuous conditions to secure a remarkable victory, having started from pole position, while reigning world champion Max Verstappen finished in second place. George Russell from Mercedes rounded out the podium, and Hamilton's Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc, finished eighth after narrowly avoiding a collision with Hamilton in the race's final moments.

The race, characterized by unexpected developments and continuous drama, saw Hamilton's situation worsen when McLaren's Oscar Piastri overtook him on the last lap, leaving him to finish in a disappointing tenth place. Starting from eighth, the 39-year-old had anticipated a strong performance in his first competitive race with the Scuderia, but the concluding laps turned into a challenging ordeal.

Hamilton on the race

In his reflections on a challenging race, Hamilton acknowledged the difficulties he faced in managing the car under the demanding conditions. "It was quite challenging," he remarked. "The situation turned out to be much worse than I had anticipated; the car was extremely difficult to handle today. I am thankful that I managed to avoid the wall, as that seemed to be its preferred direction for most of the race."

He also voiced his disappointment regarding the team's weather evaluation, which played a significant role in a costly strategic decision. "The information I received indicated it would be a brief shower, just a quick one affecting only the last corner. However, more rain followed."

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