In the aftermath of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton, who is a seven-time Formula One champion, expressed serious discontent regarding his performance during the race held at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. Hamilton referred to his experience as “horrible,” grappling with notable car issues that prevented him from keeping pace with his competitors. His dismal performance culminated in a seventh-place finish, a staggering 31 seconds behind his Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc, who celebrated an impressive third-place podium finish, marking Ferrari’s first podium of the season.
Hamilton’s sentiments centered around frustration, as he stated, “Nothing positive to take from today, apart from Charles on the podium, which is great for the team.” His disappointment stems from an inability to gain any positions from his qualifying standing. This particular race indicates a concerning trend for Hamilton as he struggled to feel in control of his vehicle, consistently noting, “I was just sliding around,” which signifies a significant decline in form when compared to his past performances.
While Hamilton managed a commendable fifth-place finish in the previous Bahraini Grand Prix, he now finds himself in seventh position within the drivers’ championship standings. The dissatisfaction ran deep as he wrestled with the inexplicable lack of speed, saying, “I don’t have an answer.” He contemplated his performance in the recent sprint race in China, where he triumphed, contrasting it starkly with his dismal showing in Saudi Arabia.
Looking ahead, Hamilton expressed concerns regarding the upcoming Miami race, indicating he expected to face similar struggles: “I don’t know how much longer I’ll struggle for but it’s definitely painful.” This week-by-week improvement outlook suggests he remains hopeful for future races, although his recent experiences signal a bitter struggle ahead. He remarked that the current situation may persist for the duration of the season, noting, “there is no fix so this is how it’s going to be for the rest of the year. It’s going to be painful.”
On the performance front, Ferrari has not found itself in the best shape. Charles Leclerc’s podium finish should have been a point of pride for the Italian team; however, there remains an underlying realization that they are yet to find the necessary competitive edge in qualifying. Leclerc himself acknowledged, “We need to focus on qualifying because it’s been a very long time I haven’t been as happy with the car balance,” speaking to both the team efforts and individual challenges that lie ahead for the season.
Their qualifying struggle has seen them missing opportunities to fight at the front of the grid, with Leclerc highlighting that race pace is dictated by various factors like free air. The team is aware that they cannot afford to fall too far behind in the championship standings, currently trailing by a significant number of points. Leclerc noted, “We cannot lose too many races before finding it because we’re already 50 points down in the drivers’ championship.” This stark awareness of the competitive landscape underscores the urgency that Ferrari faces.
As for the upcoming races, the conversation hones in on qualifying sessions being critical as they aim to rectify the persistent issues that prevent them from capitalizing on race day potential. With McLaren and Red Bull having made substantial progress over the winter, Ferrari’s leadership must focus on addressing their current weaknesses to remain contenders in this ongoing Formula 1 season. The trajectory of both Hamilton and Ferrari represents an intriguing dynamic for fans and signifies the unpredictable nature of racing dynamics today.