Lewis Hamilton has scored just eight points in the first three races of the F1 season; Ferrari, who Hamilton will leave Mercedes to join next season, punctuated a strong start to 2024 with victory in Australia; watch the Japanese GP live on Sky Sports F1 this weekend
Friday 29 March 2024 16:06, UK
Lewis Hamilton will be comforted by Ferrari's strong form amid his and Mercedes' disappointing start to the 2024 Formula 1 season, according to Sky Sports F1's Karun Chandhok.
Hamilton stunned the sporting world by agreeing a 2025 switch to the Italian team ahead of the start of this season, with the seven-time world champion calling time on a 12-year stint at Mercedes.
The early signs are that, from a competitive standpoint, Hamilton's decision may prove to be a smart one, with Ferrari comprehensively outperforming Mercedes over the first three races.
"It's natural that Lewis will feel comforted," Chandhok said.
"He knows he's probably not going to win the world championship this year unless there is a miraculous turnaround, so he might as well look to the future.
"And at the moment, the Ferrari is a better package than the Mercedes."
Hamilton finished seventh and ninth respectively at the opening two races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, before retiring from the Australian Grand Prix with an engine failure having only qualified 11th.
Meanwhile, Ferrari picked up podium finishes behind Red Bull one-twos at the opening two races, before Carlos Sainz took advantage of Max Verstappen's retirement to lead the Italian team to a one-two of their own from Charles Leclerc in Melbourne.
The wisdom of Hamilton's last switch, from McLaren to Mercedes in 2013, was questioned at the time but it proved a masterstroke as he went on to win six drivers' titles in seven seasons from 2014 to 2020.
While Hamilton has insisted the key motivation for his move to Ferrari is fulfilling a "childhood dream", Chandhok believes the decision will have also been impacted by where the Brit believes his best chance of sealing a record eighth title will come.
"The timing of his decision, it couldn't have been out of nothing," Chandhok said.
"The timing suggests he had some inkling that it wasn't going to be great, so I might as well take the chance to try something new.
"If he thought Mercedes were going to give him a car that would win him the championship this year and in 2025, I don't think he would have left.
"We all know what happened with Max's retirement, but I imagine Lewis took a little bit of satisfaction at seeing the Ferrari one-two."
While Mercedes have failed to provide Hamilton with a competitive car, the 39-year-old has also appeared to fail to get the most out it, with team-mate George Russell outperforming him.
Russell has established a 3-0 qualifying head-to-head advantage over Hamilton to start the season, and finished ahead at the first two races before also retiring in Australia.
"I don't think even Mercedes or Lewis will have a clear answer for why it's happening," Chandhok said.
"So far, Lewis just doesn't look like he's found a happy balance with the car.
"I don't think he's been happy with the car at any point this season."
Thursday April 4
5am: Drivers' press conference
Friday April 5
3am: Japanese GP Practice One (session starts at 3.30am)*
6.45am: Japanese GP Practice Two (session starts at 7am)*
8.30am: The F1 Show*
10am: Japanese GP Practice One replay
11.30am: Japanese GP Practice Two replay
Saturday April 6
3.15am: Japanese GP Practice Three (session starts at 3.30am)*
6am: Japanese GP Qualifying build-up*
7am: Japanese GP Qualifying*
9am: Ted's Qualifying Notebook*
10am: Japanese GP Qualifying replay
Sunday April 7
5am: Grand Prix Sunday Japanese GP build-up*
6am: The JAPANESE GRAND PRIX*
8am: Chequered Flag: Japanese GP reaction*
9am: Ted's Notebook*
9.30am: Japanese Grand Prix replay
12pm: Japanese Grand Prix highlights
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1's biggest ever season continues with the Japanese Grand Prix, live on Sky Sports F1 from April 5-7. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership - No contract, cancel anytime
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