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 lead to the primary Grand Prix would carry much more significance for each driver and group.
Hamilton’s begin to life in pink 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 on account of a technical infringement. A seventh-place end in Japan supplied little comfort, although a fifth-place lead to 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 factors from updates usually take a number of races to totally materialize. Because the sequence now strikes to Saudi Arabia, the Maranello group are quietly optimistic that Hamilton might unlock as a lot as a 30% efficiency increase.
The Scuderia are at present enduring their longest podium drought for the reason that four-race dry spell that started with the 2022 Miami Grand Prix. Hamilton, who received 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, at the moment are eyeing the faltering Purple Bull group 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 group as distinctive as Ferrari, the place the stress to succeed is commonly as intense as the eagerness surrounding the badge. Vettel famous that whereas the Briton stays one of the vital gifted drivers on the grid—no matter his age—adapting to a brand new setting inevitably requires time.
Vettel expressed confidence that Ferrari’s season might take a pointy upward flip as soon as their improvement path stabilizes. He cautioned, nonetheless, that if early upgrades fail to ship, the group is perhaps compelled to rethink their 2025 technique and shift focus towards the sweeping regulation adjustments 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 inner dynamics. Vettel believes Hamilton is greater than able to delivering outcomes, however acknowledged that acclimating to Ferrari’s distinctive construction takes persistence. He reminded followers that Ferrari stay a formidable power and that dismissing the group—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 latest qualifying struggles, suggesting that the British driver may benefit 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 method might assist Lewis Hamilton discover important one-lap tempo—an space the place teammate Charles Leclerc at present holds the sting.
Lewis Hamilton finds himself ready paying homage to the German driver’s ultimate years with the Italian facet. Regardless of Sebastian Vettel’s early success—together with a race win on his second Ferrari begin and a number of podiums—his type 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, notably when it comes to 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 important space for enchancment if he hopes to shut the hole and compete usually for podiums.
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