Martin Brundle doesn't hold back on Lewis Hamilton after nightmare Ferrari debut at Australian Grand Prix

The world had been hoping to see Hamilton rediscover his mojo, having seen the veteran struggle for consistency in recent years.

Instead, however, his debut ended up failing to live up to expectations.

Ferrari have since backed Hamilton, insisting his early problems with the side are merely teething problems that will be sorted out.

Yet Brundle, speaking on Sky Sports, feels it would be wrong to hail the Stevenage-born racer given his troubles on the grid.

“I don’t think Lewis had a particularly strong weekend," he said.

“I mean, they’re saying they’re incredibly happy but, you know, he was eighth on the grid, nine-tenths off pole behind his team-mate.

JUST IN:Arne Slot fires shots at Newcastle after Liverpool lose Carabao Cup final - 'Exactly the way they wanted'

“[Oscar] Piastri overtook him on the last lap and various dramas, he didn’t have a particularly strong race pace.

“I don’t think Lewis can go away from this race anything other than a little bit disappointed and challenged to be honest and he’ll be hoping for much more in China next weekend.”

Hamilton, to his credit, has the quality to bounce back.

The Australian Grand Prix was tough for many other drivers, not just the 40-year-old, given the rainy and wet conditions in Melbourne.

READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton makes complaint after nightmare Ferrari debut at Australian Grand Prix

Hamilton, reacting to his first race with Ferrari, admitted that he'd found it 'tricky'.

But he's still upbeat about the future as he looks to finally win a historic eighth F1 title.

"It was very tricky and went a lot worse than I thought it would go," he said.

"The car was really, really hard to drive today.

LATEST SPORTS NEWS:

• Virgil van Dijk seen performing classy gesture after Liverpool lose to Newcastle in Carabao Cup final
• Sir Chris Hoy's wife makes heartbreaking admission about husband's cancer battle and own MS fight
• Alan Shearer joins in Newcastle Carabao Cup celebrations as players party night away after Liverpool win

"For me, I'm just grateful I kept it out of the wall because that's where it wanted to go most of the time.

"A lot to take from it and just getting acclimatised with the new power unit in the wet conditions.

"The settings it requires are different, and a different way of driving and a different set-up on the steering wheel.

"I hung out as long as I could, got in the lead at one point. Just the guidance with how much more rain was coming, was missing there, so I think we missed out."

Hamilton will be hoping to bounce back when the Chinese Grand Prix takes place on Sunday.

The Briton has won six times in the Far East throughout his career, with his last victory coming back in 2019 before the coronavirus pandemic.