10/05/2025 10:10
Haas F1 driver Esteban Ocon has stated he can "relate" to the
struggles Lewis Hamilton has endured during his opening phase as a
Ferrari driver. The seven-time champion has struggled to adapt to
the Ferrari car following his switch from Mercedes, with his best
grand prix result being fifth in Bahrain. His highest success has
come in the two sprint races held in China and Miami, where he
finished first and third respectively. Hamilton has highlighted his
struggles with the Ferrari's instability and its brakes at recent
events - limitations Ocon is familiar with. "It's very difficult,
especially when you change car philosophy," Ocon told media
including RacingNews365 . "The Haas car and the Ferrari car have a
lot of similarities, so I can relate to Lewis on that side. "I have
driven the Mercedes as well in the past, so it is a very different
way of driving the car or extracting the potential of it. "The car
feels very different, so it is not easy for sure to adapt to that.
But I am sure he will find a way very quickly." Esteban Ocon
suggests key reason behind Lewis Hamilton struggles Hamilton joined
the Italian squad after 12 years with Mercedes, winning six F1
titles in that time. The 40-year-old holds the record for the most
F1 races with a single squad, having entered 346 grands prix with
the Brackley-based squad. Despite building a huge bank of
experience, Ocon has suggested his lengthy Mercedes stint is a
reason behind his struggles at Ferrari. When asked if it's easier
to adjust to different cars with more F1 experience, Ocon replied:
"It's more the opposite way. "I think if you come from junior
formulas and you go straight into that car, you put everything you
have learned away and you just go into it and you learn a new thing
again. "Now with our experience, Lewis has much more experience
than me, he's driven a lot of different cars but a lot of the same
ones as well for a long time. "I can understand why it is not easy
and I also know it is not easy for me or for Carlos, but we will
get there."
