Lewis Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari hasn’t been smooth, as seen at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
- Hamilton is visibly uncomfortable with the Ferrari SF-25, catching the attention of F1 pundits.
- Despite success in China, this season mostly requires Hamilton to fight hard for every position.
- Radio exchanges during practices highlight the ongoing issues Hamilton faces with the car.
- Even teammate Charles Leclerc struggles, indicating broader issues with Ferrari’s current setup.
Lewis Hamilton’s move to Scuderia Ferrari was one of the most anticipated changes in recent racing history, but it’s proving to be more challenging than expected. At the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Hamilton’s unease behind the wheel of the Ferrari SF-25 was evident, sparking comments from Sky Sports F1 analyst Martin Brundle about his comfort level.
In what has been a tough season, Hamilton managed a notable win in China, going from pole position to victory during the sprint race. However, apart from that, the journey has been a constant battle. Hamilton himself seems aware of the struggles, candidly admitting after FP2 that Saturdays typically don’t work out for him. He was only able to secure the 12th position in FP2, which did not improve in FP3, where he ended in 13th.
A moment that stood out during FP3 was Hamilton’s radio conversation with his race engineer Riccardo Adami, questioning his sector times. The response was disheartening: ‘Seven tenths first sector, four tenths second sector,’ followed by an aborted final sector. Hamilton’s one-word response, ‘Jeez…’, summed up the frustration. He later remarked he lacked grip and was advised to cool down before returning to the pit, underlining his dissatisfaction.
It’s a striking contrast from his days at Mercedes, where Hamilton’s dominance was unquestioned. Observers like Brundle have noted how uncomfortable it is to see Hamilton off pace by such margins, suggesting setup issues between Hamilton and the car. Brundle also highlighted that Hamilton is not accustomed to losing so much time in the initial sector of any track, which points to his struggle to connect with the car’s dynamics.
The problems aren’t isolated to Hamilton alone. His teammate Charles Leclerc is also finding it difficult to unlock performance from the SF-25. Leclerc has reported limits with the car’s handling, particularly its tendency to slide in corners, indicating the vehicle’s intrinsic difficulties that are affecting both drivers, leaving Ferrari with significant challenges to overcome.
Trouble continues for Hamilton and Ferrari as they seek solutions to their performance woes.
