Hamilton has wet weather homework to do for Ferrari

MELBOURNE - Lewis Hamilton will be burning the midnight oil to learn Ferraris rain settings with wet weather forecast for the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday, as the Briton continues to get up to speed with his new team.

The season-opening race at Albert Park will be Hamiltons first for the glamour team after winning his seven titles with McLaren and Mercedes.

The 40-year-old struggled for pace during the three practice sessions and qualified only eighth, one place behind teammate Charles Leclerc, in scorching heat at Albert Park on Saturday.

Despite Ferraris lack of qualifying pace, rain on Sunday could help them make up ground to the McLarens at the front.

Tomorrows going to be a challenge, Ive never driven this car in the rain, said Hamilton.

I dont even know the rain settings so Ive got to go and study that tonight. It will be a learning experience again.

McLarens pole-sitter Lando Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri locked out the front row, with defending champion Max Verstappen third and Mercedes George Russell fourth.

Hamilton was nearly nine-tenths of a second behind Norriss fastest lap but if the seven-times world champion was disappointed by his cars performance, he hid it well.

I had a really good time out there today. Everythings been a first this weekend, he said.

To be that close in my first qualifying session, Id definitely take it. Well just get our heads down and start working, trying to find out why were not on pace with the frontrunners.

Leclerc was less enthused with his cars running in the final session of qualifying.

The lap wasnt great, all in all, we just didnt have the pace today, said the Monegasque driver.

We mainly struggled with the balance of the car and putting it all together, so we