Hamilton tempers expectations on Ferrari upgrades: “Fingers crossed it’s better than we hope”

Lewis Hamilton has tempered expectations about Ferrari’s upgrades, which will be introduced for the Austrian and British Grand Prix weekends. 

The Maranello outfit is expected to run with a revised floor at the Red Bull Ring, and then bring in changes to the rear suspension next week at Silverstone.

“I mean firstly, happy that we have an upgrade,” the seven-time champion told Motorsport.com and other media in Austria, when asked if he thought the new upgrades might make him feel more comfortable with the car.

“It’s always exciting to get new pieces to the car so I’m really grateful for everyone working really hard to bring those.

“We really don’t know the actual effect that it’s gonna have, it’s not the normal information we’re getting of how much load you added to the car, that’s not necessarily clear and so hopefully it will be a step in the right direction but I don’t think we’re expecting it to change a huge amount but fingers crossed it’s better than we hope.”

Ferrari team chief Fred Vasseur also discussed the upgrades with Sky Sports F1.

“We will have an upgrade soon, before UK, and perhaps another one a bit later,” said Vasseur.

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

“But, honestly, I think there is much more in execution and what you get from the car, than the potential of the car itself.

“Now we are at the end of the regulations, when we bring something to the track, we are speaking hundredths rather than tenths and if you don’t use the car well, you lose tenths.

“That’s happened a couple of times on our side at least – and we are not the only one. When we brought upgrades in the past, we needed one or two races to adapt the car to the set-up of the new version.

“I want to put the focus on the team much more on the execution than on the pure potential of the car. But we will bring something.”

Both Hamilton has his team-mate Charles Leclerc will have the first opportunity to test the new upgrades on track tomorrow. The first practice session begins at 12:30 BST (13:30 local time).