Lewis Hamilton sees ‘nothing positive' in Saudi GP P7 finish

Dominika Jordan
Apr 20, 2025, 05:36 PM ET

Lewis Hamilton calls Saudi GP P7 finish disappointing, highlights Ferrari struggles and vows improvement.

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

Lewis Hamilton struck a dejected tone after finishing seventh at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, stating there was "nothing positive" to take from his result. The seven-time world champion remains frustrated in his first season with Ferrari, which has yielded inconsistent performances so far.

Hamilton, who also finished fifth in Bahrain last weekend, described feeling out of sync with his car throughout the event in Jeddah. "There wasn't one second [of comfort]," Hamilton admitted to Sky Sports, adding, "Well clearly the car is capable of being P3, so... Charles did a great job today, so I can’t blame the car."

Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc delivered a podium finish, taking third behind Oscar Piastri and winner Max Verstappen. Reflecting on Leclerc’s result, Hamilton praised his teammate: "[There is] nothing positive from today except from Charles finishing on the podium, which was great for the team."

Hamilton found himself in a close mid-race duel with McLaren’s Lando Norris, battling for sixth position. Norris eventually overtook the Ferrari driver after two laps of intense pressure, further underlining Hamilton’s struggles in adapting to his car.

The 40-year-old said his frustrations began as early as Saturday’s qualifying session, where he felt "nowhere" but managed to squeeze into Q3. "I need to go back to the drawing board," he admitted.

Despite Hamilton’s difficulties, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur expressed confidence in the driver’s abilities. "I will be 2000% behind him and give him support… Honestly, I’m not too worried," Vasseur told reporters, citing Hamilton's earlier performance in China and Bahrain as evidence of his potential.

Vasseur acknowledged Hamilton’s disappointment, especially with Leclerc reaching the podium. "For sure he's down because when you finish seventh and your teammate is on the podium, it’s normal. But I see it as a positive—he’s a racer and a competitor who always demands the best."

Hamilton has made steady, if unspectacular, progress in the opening races of the season, qualifying and finishing in the top 10 on all five occasions. He currently sits seventh in the drivers' championship standings but has yet to unlock the full potential of his partnership with Ferrari.

As the team works to address the challenges, Hamilton has made it clear that significant improvement is needed. For now, the veteran driver’s journey at Ferrari continues to be a battle to find harmony with his car—and himself.