Lewis Hamilton is deeply disappointed after a disheartening Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The British driver started the race in Jeddah in seventh place and finished in the same position. “Nothing I did worked,” Hamilton lamented, who also has no hope for future races.
For two laps, the old Lewis Hamilton seemed to resurface in Jeddah. The seven-time world champion battled with Lando Norris for sixth place, tactically using the DRS zone. The two Brits swapped positions for several laps until Norris eventually overtook Hamilton.
Hamilton did not finish higher than seventh, while teammate Charles Leclerc climbed onto the podium. The Ferrari driver is visibly downcast after the race. “I just had no grip, and no good balance,” Hamilton sighed to Formula1.com. “I was fighting the car in every corner and nothing I did worked.” The seven-time world champion is so disheartened that even the break before the Miami Grand Prix offers no glimmer of hope. “That won’t make a difference.”
Consistency
However, team boss Frédéric Vasseur has not completely given up hope. “I spoke to Lewis briefly, but it has really been a tough weekend for him,” said the Frenchman. “He was a bit inconsistent throughout the weekend. Even in the race, he had a good stint, and a good first part of the second stint.” For Vasseur, the goal is clear: “We need to be more consistent from Friday morning, including during all the qualifying rounds, to start in a better position. The potential is definitely there and consistency is the key for us.”
