India, March 16 -- Lewis Hamilton endured a dramatic and frustrating debut for Ferrari at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, as a late rain shower and a strategic miscalculation cost him a potential shock victory. The seven-time world champion was left seething after the team chose to keep him out on slick tyres while most of the frontrunners pitted for intermediates, a decision that ultimately saw him tumble down the order.

With rain playing havoc in the closing laps, Ferrari's gamble to leave Hamilton out backfired when a subsequent safety car left him stranded in slow-moving traffic.

When he finally made his way into the pits for wet tyres, the Briton rejoined in ninth place, visibly frustrated. He swore on the team radio and ...