Ferrari returns to front row at Sepang with Hamilton celebrating: Is he the favorite for the race?
Qualifying was thrilling for both Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton, who secured a front-row spot with a textbook lap at Sepang. The British champion showcased his full talent on the Malaysian circuit’s corners, only struggling on the long straights due to engine power.
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However, the SF-26 shone again with aerodynamic gains, and telemetry showed Lewis was comfortably on pole before the last two straight sections.
Despite not taking pole, Hamilton still celebrated exuberantly over team radio after qualifying. Upon learning he was second, Lewis exclaimed: “Come on guys, come on! Finally! Excellent job this session, the timing was perfect, and the car felt fantastic to drive.”
Hamilton and Ferrari’s impressive race pace at Sepang
Hamilton’s joyful reaction partly reflects Ferrari’s strong race pace shown at Sepang. During FP2 and FP3, the SF-26 demonstrated remarkable tire management. This is crucial on a high-degradation track, making Ferrari a leading contender for the win.
Still, Hamilton remained cautious about outright victory prospects during the press conference attended by F1inGenerale. He said, “Yes, it’s possible. But these cars are incredibly sensitive.“
“Even minor setup changes cause huge differences between runs or sessions. Adjusting the front wing angle or a millimeter of ride height can massively impact the car’s balance.”
He explained how drastic the variability can be during a race: “The car is a moving target. We try to adjust via setup and controls, including throttle management. If you apply full throttle too early, you lose time on the straights. Not everyone enjoys these challenges, but mastering all aspects is a huge task.
The difficulty is even greater as we’re constantly at the limit, especially because we lose so much on the straights.”
Hamilton concentrated on their straight-line weakness but expressed optimism about the future. He concluded: “We will keep working hard. If we reach the same power level as others, I believe we can deliver an even more thrilling battle going forward.”
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Cover image credit: Marco Talluto for F1inGenerale.com