Jock Clear says Ferrari never expected Lewis Hamilton to match Charles Leclerc immediately

Jock Clear, who previously worked alongside Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, said that Ferrari fully expected him to settle in quickly when he arrived.

After a tough opening campaign with the Scuderia, Lewis Hamilton appears much more settled in his second year at Ferrari. The seven-time world champion took his first podium for the team early this season, and looked comfortable throughout the race weekend in Japan.

Securing that first podium was a significant milestone for Hamilton and served as a reminder of what he’s capable of at this stage of his career.

Hamilton’s strong start has also led some to believe he’s pushed Charles Leclerc out of his comfort zone.

Lewis Hamilton had to adapt to ‘different DNA’ at Ferrari

Ferrari senior performance engineer Jock Clear recently told Peter Windsor on his YouTube channel that Lewis Hamilton’s improvement this season was never in doubt for those within the team.

Clear pointed out that after years at another team, such as Mercedes, it was only natural that Hamilton needed time to adapt. This process is common when adjusting to a new environment and different team dynamics.

He spoke about the positive changes he has observed, noting a shift in Hamilton’s overall approach.

Clear also addressed the narrative that Hamilton’s success came only because he had the best car. He explained that moving teams presented real challenges and it wasn’t surprising to see some initial struggles.

“Because it’s tough. With a year’s experience at Ferrari now, building relationships, and getting some of his input into the development, you’ve seen the difference this year. I’m not talking about lap time; that speaks for itself.

“But Lewis’ whole demeanour. He’s enjoying himself this year because he’s got a car that he feels a bit more confident with. And once you’ve got the confidence, you can really push further. That’s when you find out what the limitations are, then you can address those, and it becomes an organic development.”

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Clear also pointed out that Hamilton’s frustration last season wasn’t a sign he underestimated the challenge, but more about how high his standards are.

“He’s keeping up with Charles, keeping Charles honest, and that’s what we expected, but we didn’t expect it on day one of last year. And people who did expect it, and Lewis didn’t. The fact that he was super frustrated is not a reflection that he didn’t expect this or prepare for it.

“But it was what it was. He’s a winner. None of us can doubt the fact that he’s a winner. When he wasn’t able to keep up with Charles, or he wasn’t able to get the podium and the wins, that’s frustrating for him, but he knew it was a process.

“Seeing him again, 10 years later from working with him at Mercedes, his work ethic and his attitude to digging in and getting the job done is as strong if not stronger than it has ever been. This year is just bearing a bit more fruit for him.”

Hamilton still has plenty to prove before any bigger claims can be made about his form this season. But there are positive signs so far.

If Ferrari can stay in contention this year alongside Red Bull and Mercedes, then there will likely be opportunities ahead for both drivers.

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