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Motorsport

Lewis Hamilton: Bond with Ferrari “very difficult” as qualifying struggles continue

Lewis Hamilton Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Ferrari Charles Leclerc Jeddah

Lewis Hamilton cut a dejected figure after he qualified down in seventh place for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

Since winning the Shanghai sprint race on the second weekend of the 2025 Formula 1 campaign, Hamilton is struggling for form and fighting to get to grips with this year’s Ferrari.

After another disappointing result in qualifying, and seeing his team-mate Charles Leclerc qualify in fourth, Hamilton said: "It was challenging, as always, qualifying for me.

"I'd been nowhere all weekend – 13th I think in almost every session – so, honestly, I feel grateful to have got to Q3 and P7.

"Not a spectacular last lap, but have been making improvements all weekend. Needed a better lap at the end but, as I said, I'm just grateful to be there. Still plenty of time to come.”

When asked if he was more hopeful for a better result in Sunday’s race, Hamilton added: "Praying, more like! Trying to bond with this car on a single lap is something that I am finding very difficult at the moment.

"But we don't give up. When there's a will there's a way, we keep pushing, keep trying, have got some amazing support so just keep working hard."

Hamilton was quizzed about his comments after his fifth-place finishing in Bahrain where he said that he felt he was making progress and whether the result in Jeddah proved his feelings were a false dawn.

He said: “I was feeling positive after the last race and hoping that I could apply some of those things, but it's not worked.

“Tomorrow, is it about being patient, just waiting for opportunities, yellow flags and safety cars.

“I'm going to just try and race and see if I can go forwards. If I can go forwards, that'd be great. If not, then you'll be hopeful for something to happen to try and capitalise on.

“I'm a long way off. But you don't give up, just keep trying.”

Photos from Saudi Arabian GP - Practice & Qualifying

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Jack Doohan, Alpine

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Jennifer Lopez

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Carlos Sainz, Williams

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Jennifer Lopez

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Jennifer Lopez

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Susie Wolff, Managing Director of F1 Academy

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Jennifer Lopez

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Oliver Oakes, Alpine, Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor of Alpine F1

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Romain Grosjean

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Zak Brown, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Red Bull Racing pit crew ready for a pitstop

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Ayao Komatsu, Haas F1 Team

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Saturday

Formula 1

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Ben Hunt

Formula 1

Lewis Hamilton

Ferrari

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