Hamilton ‘fighting the car every corner’ in Saudi Arabian GP as Ferrari driver suffers ‘tough’ race

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.

READ MORE: Piastri believes blistering start ‘won us the race’ as McLaren man overcomes penalty-hit Verstappen to take Jeddah victory

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.”

READ MORE: Leclerc ‘never expected’ podium in Saudi Arabia as he urges Ferrari to ‘keep pushing’ for fight at front

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.

Speaking after the race in Jeddah, Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur said that more work would be needed to help Hamilton find some consistency with the SF-25.

“I had a very quick discussion with Lewis but it’s a tough weekend for him,” Vasseur commented.

READ MORE: ‘It is what it is’ – Verstappen concedes tussle with Piastri ‘potentially’ cost him victory as he hails 'good pace' shown in Jeddah

“He was a bit inconsistent, even in the race he had a good stint, a good first part of the second stint, but we have to be more consistent from Friday morning first [and] all the laps in qualifying to start in a better position, because the potential is there, for sure, and consistency is key for us.”