Lewis Hamilton will start the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix from the eighth position on the grid after a challenging qualifying session at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. The Ferrari driver admitted to struggling with the balance and grip of his SF-25 car throughout the session, ultimately finishing significantly behind his teammate Charles Leclerc, who secured P4.
In the post-qualifying interviews, Hamilton expressed his frustration at not being able to extract the full potential from the car. He highlighted ongoing difficulties in adapting his driving style to the Ferrari’s characteristics, a theme that has emerged in the initial races of the 2025 season.
Despite showing improved pace compared to his practice sessions where he even suggested aiming just for a top-ten spot, the gap to the frontrunners and his teammate remains a concern. Hamilton’s best lap in Q3 was considerably slower than Leclerc’s, indicating a fundamental difference in their comfort and ability to maximize the car’s performance on this fast street circuit.
Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur acknowledged the qualifying gap between their drivers but pointed to the team’s encouraging long-run pace during Friday practice as a potential positive for the race on Sunday. However, starting from P8 on a track where overtaking can be challenging will present a significant hurdle for Hamilton to achieve a strong result.
This qualifying outcome further underscores the adaptation period Hamilton is undergoing with Ferrari and the need for both the driver and the team to find a setup that better suits his driving style to unlock the car’s full potential.
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