Lewis Hamilton casts very grim Ferrari prediction after Saudi Arabian GP

Importance Score: 45 / 100 🔵

Hamilton Foresees Prolonged Period of Adaptation at Ferrari

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton anticipates a potentially arduous season as he acclimates to racing for Ferrari in Formula 1. Since transitioning from Mercedes to the Scuderia, the British driver has faced challenges in consistently matching the performance of teammate Charles Leclerc. At the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix qualifying, Hamilton secured seventh position, placing him behind Leclerc on the grid for the fourth time in the initial five races of the season. This early performance is raising questions about Hamilton’s adaptation to the Ferrari car and his pursuit of pace against Leclerc and other competitors in the F1 championship.

Saudi Arabia Race and Performance Deficit

Despite gaining a place at the start from Carlos Sainz of Williams, Hamilton ultimately finished the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in his starting position. Lando Norris’s progress from P10 negated any positional gain for Hamilton. However, the more significant concern for Hamilton was the evident lack of speed compared to rivals. While Leclerc achieved Ferrari’s first podium finish of the season, Hamilton struggled to close the gap to Kimi Antonelli, his replacement at Mercedes, highlighting the performance gap he is experiencing early in his Ferrari tenure.

“Painful” Adaptation Period for Hamilton

The outlook appears challenging for Hamilton and his supporters. “In qualifying, I believe I am maximizing the car’s potential,” Hamilton stated, indicating his efforts to extract performance. “In the race, I explored various strategies, but the car simply lacked additional pace.”

Anticipated Struggles to Continue

Hamilton further commented, “I anticipate similar difficulties in Miami.” He conveyed uncertainty regarding the duration of this struggle, describing it as “definitely painful.” The British driver concluded with a somber assessment: “Currently, there is no immediate solution. It appears this is the reality for the remainder of the year. It will be a painful season.”

Leclerc’s Edge and Data Analysis

Prior to the 2025 season, a Leclerc advantage over Hamilton was widely predicted. However, the extent of Leclerc’s upper hand has been noteworthy. The Monegasque driver’s consistent high performance since joining Ferrari positions him as a potential world championship contender with competitive machinery.

Seeking Set-up Solutions in Miami

Ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, the F1 paddock has a weekend respite. This break provides Hamilton with an opportunity to analyze Leclerc’s performance data and consider adjustments to align his car setup more closely with his teammate’s. Hamilton acknowledged that Leclerc’s set-ups remain largely consistent across race weekends.

Hamilton Acknowledges Leclerc’s Mastery of Ferrari

“He has extensive experience driving this car, giving him a deep understanding of its nuances,” Hamilton observed regarding Leclerc. “The data analysis reveals valuable insights. While the data doesn’t show drastically different driving styles,…”

Cornering Speed Discrepancy

Hamilton admitted, “…Simply put, I am slower through the corners.” He elaborated, “We are utilizing slightly different set-ups, and I need to investigate if his configuration is inherently better suited to the car’s characteristics. Clearly, he and his team are currently executing at a higher level,” recognizing Leclerc’s superior performance and setup optimization within the Ferrari team as he navigates this challenging season of adaptation.

🕐 Top News in the Last Hour By Importance Score

View More Top News ➡️