Lewis Hamilton Eyes First Ferrari Podium at Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Because the Components 1 season heads to Jeddah, Lewis Hamilton is aiming for his first Sunday podium end with Ferrari on the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Whereas the seven-time world champion has already celebrated a Dash race victory, a top-three end in the primary Grand Prix would carry much more significance for each driver and staff.
Hamilton’s begin to life in purple has been turbulent. After managing solely tenth place on his Ferrari debut on the Albert Park circuit in Australia, he was disqualified from the Chinese language Grand Prix in Shanghai as a result of a technical infringement. A seventh-place end in Japan supplied little comfort, although a fifth-place end in Bahrain was a step ahead. Ferrari’s upgraded SF-25 confirmed encouraging indicators over the course of the 57-lap contest, and insiders counsel that efficiency positive aspects from updates usually take a number of races to completely materialize. Because the collection now strikes to Saudi Arabia, the Maranello staff are quietly optimistic that Hamilton may unlock as a lot as a 30% efficiency enhance.
The Scuderia are at the moment enduring their longest podium drought because the four-race dry spell that started with the 2022 Miami Grand Prix. Hamilton, who gained the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in 2021, has since didn’t qualify inside the highest six on any of his three return visits. He arrives in Jeddah sitting seventh within the drivers’ standings—mirroring his ultimate place with Mercedes in 2024. Ferrari, fourth within the constructors’ championship, are actually eyeing the faltering Pink Bull staff as potential targets, ought to momentum shift.
Sebastian Vettel Backs Hamilton Amid Ferrari Transition
Sebastian Vettel, a former Ferrari driver and four-time world champion, shared his ideas with Sky Sports activities Germany on Hamilton’s adjustment interval at Maranello. He emphasised the complexity of becoming a member of a staff as distinctive as Ferrari, the place the strain to succeed is usually as intense as the fervour surrounding the badge. Vettel famous that whereas the Briton stays some of the gifted drivers on the grid—no matter his age—adapting to a brand new atmosphere inevitably requires time.
Vettel expressed confidence that Ferrari’s season may take a pointy upward flip as soon as their growth course stabilizes. He cautioned, nevertheless, that if early upgrades fail to ship, the staff is perhaps pressured to rethink their 2025 technique and shift focus towards the sweeping regulation modifications coming in 2026. Nonetheless, he identified that Ferrari had been inside 14 factors of the constructors’ title in 2024, suggesting that critics shouldn’t rush to judgment based mostly on the opening 4 rounds.
He described the transition as multifaceted, involving not simply technical challenges but in addition cultural shifts, together with language and inside dynamics. Vettel believes Hamilton is greater than able to delivering outcomes, however acknowledged that acclimating to Ferrari’s distinctive construction takes endurance. He reminded followers that Ferrari stay a formidable power and that dismissing the staff—or its drivers—can be untimely.
Ted Kravitz Suggests Oscar Piastri as a Qualifying Benchmark for Hamilton
Ted Kravitz weighed in on the seven-time Components 1 world champion’s current qualifying struggles, suggesting that the British driver may gain advantage from observing Oscar Piastri’s progress. The Australian has made notable strides on Saturdays this season, considerably bettering on his 2024 performances. Ted Kravitz implied that adopting parts of the Australian’s strategy may assist Lewis Hamilton discover vital one-lap tempo—an space the place teammate Charles Leclerc at the moment holds the sting.
Lewis Hamilton finds himself ready paying homage to the German driver’s ultimate years with the Italian aspect. Regardless of Sebastian Vettel’s early success—together with a race win on his second Ferrari begin and a number of podiums—his kind declined following the arrival of Charles Leclerc in 2019. Ultimately, the Monegasque’s rise led to Sebastian Vettel’s departure. Lewis Hamilton now faces an identical problem as Charles Leclerc continues to extract extra constant tempo from the SF-25, significantly by way of qualifying efficiency.
Nonetheless, the Briton just lately mentioned in Bahrain that he feels more and more comfy with the automotive and believes progress is underway. Qualifying efficiency can be a vital space for enchancment if he hopes to shut the hole and compete often for podiums.
Purchase official Ferrari F1 merchandise!
Let different Scuderia Followers learn about us
