Hamilton locked in the 12th fastest lap in the first session at Albert Park, which was over half a second slower that his teammate Chales Leclerc, who came in third. Hamilton, a seven-times world champion, had a fifth quickest time in the second outing, but Leclerc still finished atop, 0.42 seconds quicker than the veteran.
Speaking between the sessions, Vasseur said his team did not expect Hamilton to be “at the limit” in his first runs.
“It’s not a matter of speed. The target is for him to know everybody at the team, discover the software, the process, the system,” he told reporters.
“I think I’m really convinced that we have something very similar to Mercedes but at the end of the day perhaps not with the same name or the same way to use them. It’s just a learning process.”
Vasseur pointed to former Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz’s win at the previous year’s race at Albert Park, two days after managing only the eighth fastest lap in the first free practice.
“You can’t draw a conclusion after a first session. I have absolutely no doubt that (Hamilton) will be able to perform and to perform soon,” he said.
Also Read: Oscar Piastri confident to scale a first as McLaren star sets eyes on Australian GP title
Hamilton’s switch from Mercedes has raised hopes among Ferrari fans of a first F1 title since the team won the 2008 constructors’ crown.
The 40-year-old Briton said it was “amazing” to get to work in the car on Friday but it had performed differently to what he had experienced before.
“The car doesn’t feel bad or anything, it just requires a different way of driving,” he told Sky.
“So it took a little bit of bedding in through P1 (first practice). P2 was definitely a little better but just building.
“Slowly building and getting faster, bit by bit.”
