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Motorsport

Lewis Hamilton’s 32-second interview sums up his Saudi shocker

Lewis Hamilton Saudi Charles Leclerc Ferrari Mercedes Saudi Arabian GP

Lewis Hamilton was in no mood for questioning after a disappointing Saudi Arabian GP where he finished seventh.

After the highs of winning the sprint race in China last month, the seven-time world champion came into the race in Jeddah saying he needed “a brain transplant” in order to understand his new Ferrari F1 car.

Despite the win in Shanghai, Hamilton has largely struggled with his new team after joining from Mercedes over the winter. And he could not hide his disappointment when questioned after the race in Saudi, where his team-mate Charles Leclerc was able to finish third in the same machinery.

Hamilton was asked if there were some positives he could take from his second stint after his tyre stop, and whether he was more comfortable, to which he said: “No. There was not one second [I was comfortable].”

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Carlos Sainz, Williams, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes (Photo by: Lars Baron)

He was pressed by Sky F1 as to how hard it was to drive, and Hamilton said there was no hiding behind the performance of the car.

He added: “Well, clearly the car is capable of being P3, so Charles did a great job today – so I can't blame it on the car.”

In a follow-up as to whether he had any idea why it was only him who was struggling, Hamilton simply replied: “No.”

Meanwhile, Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur admitted Hamilton could be struggling to adjust to his new team.

Speaking to Sky F1 immediately after the race, he said: “I didn't discuss with Lewis, but it was a bit up and down. It's not that he was always off the pace, but let me discuss with him first.

“There is no problem. It is confidence with the car and a little bit with himself in that everything is new and for sure, this weekend when you don't do a long stint on Friday, we were struggling a little bit with the balance – but let's see.”

Photos from Saudi Arabian GP - Race

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

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Alexandra Saint Mleux

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al Abdullah Al-Faisal, Chairman of SAMF with Mohammed ben Sulayem, FIA President

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Jack Doohan, Alpine

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Carlos Sainz, Williams, Alexander Albon, Williams

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

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Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

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Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Frederic Vasseur, Team Principal, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Flavio Briatore, Alpine

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Angela Cullen, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

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

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

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

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber, Jack Doohan, Alpine

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing, Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team, Alexander Albon, Williams

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren, Carlos Sainz, Williams

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing, Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Carlos Sainz, Williams, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Zak Brown, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Zak Brown, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Andrea Stella, McLaren, Zak Brown, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Zak Brown, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Sunday

Formula 1

67

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Formula 1

Lewis Hamilton

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