Breaking: Lewis Hamilton makes worrying Ferrari confession as Brit gets brutally ho…read more
Lewis Hamilton Admits Confusion Over Ferrari Struggles After Tough Saudi GP Outing
Lewis Hamilton has admitted he has no understanding of why he struggled so much during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, despite entering the weekend with optimism. The seven-time Formula One world champion endured a difficult race in Jeddah, finishing a disappointing seventh and failing to make any significant progress from his starting grid position. This latest result has only intensified the scrutiny around his early performances with Ferrari since his high-profile move from Mercedes.
Coming off the back of a more promising weekend in Bahrain, Hamilton had hoped he was beginning to unlock the potential of his new SF-25 and rediscover his rhythm. However, any momentum he had built quickly vanished in Saudi Arabia, where he appeared off the pace throughout all three practice sessions and couldn’t challenge the front-runners during the race.
Hamilton’s race was further overshadowed by the performance of his teammate, Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque driver delivered a strong drive, starting from fourth on the grid and using a smart alternative strategy — extending his first stint on medium tyres — to overtake Mercedes driver George Russell and secure Ferrari’s first podium of the 2025 season. Leclerc’s efforts highlighted the potential within the car, leaving Hamilton to wonder why he wasn’t able to extract similar performance.
Speaking candidly in the media pen after the race, Hamilton looked visibly frustrated and downcast. When asked if he felt at any point during the race that he was comfortable in the SF-25, he replied bluntly, “No, there wasn’t one second, no.” He openly acknowledged the strength of the car and his teammate’s impressive drive, stating, “Clearly the car is capable of being P3, so… Charles did a great job today. So I can’t blame it on the car.” But when asked if he had any insight into his own lack of pace or comfort behind the wheel, Hamilton simply shook his head and responded, “No.”
The result has had immediate implications on the championship standings. Leclerc has now pulled 16 points ahead of Hamilton in the Drivers’ Championship, despite Hamilton picking up a sprint race win earlier in the season. In the Constructors’ standings, however, Ferrari are closing the gap to Red Bull, thanks in part to Yuki Tsunoda’s retirement on the first lap of the race. That DNF cost Red Bull valuable points and allowed Ferrari to close within 11 points of the reigning champions.
Hamilton’s brutal honesty and visible confusion are raising questions about his adaptation to the Ferrari setup and whether he can mount a serious challenge this season. With Leclerc extracting strong performances from the same machinery, the pressure is on for Hamilton to quickly turn things around as the 2025 season gathers momentum. The F1 paddock will be watching closely as the Brit looks to bounce back at the next round.
