Lewis Hamilton has admitted he was “fighting the car every corner” during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix as the Ferrari driver could only manage seventh at the chequered flag on Sunday.
The seven-time World Champion endured another difficult weekend at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, finishing in the same position he qualified after a lonely race which left him 39 seconds behind winner Oscar Piastri.
In contrast, team mate Charles Leclerc moved up from fourth to take third in the 50-lap encounter, which was Ferrari’s first rostrum of the season outside of Hamilton’s victory in the China Sprint.
When asked about his lack of pace post-race in Saudi Arabia, Hamilton replied:
“I just lacked grip, I lacked good balance. It was just fighting the car every corner and nothing I did would work”
“Every lap, every time you’re going around, you’re trying to adapt and improve on that specific spot.”
With the next race in Miami two weeks away, Hamilton was asked if the gap allowed for a period of reflection, before replying: “Honestly, I don’t think so – it’s not going to make any difference.”
The opening five weekends of the season have been challenging for Hamilton after his switch to Ferrari from Mercedes in the off-season, which has so far yielded a best Grand Prix result of fifth in Bahrain.
It leaves the Briton seventh in the Drivers’ Championship, 16 points behind Leclerc and seven adrift of his replacement at Mercedes, rookie Kimi Antonelli.
Source: Formular1
