Lewis Hamilton’s weekend at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix was marked by struggles to match the pace of McLaren, with Mercedes facing challenges throughout the event.
Despite starting from the eighth position on the grid, Hamilton found it difficult to make significant progress during the race. Ultimately, he finished in ninth place, a result that fell short of his expectations and left him feeling disappointed.
Hamilton openly expressed his dissatisfaction with finishing ninth, stating that racing for just two points was far from enjoyable for him, especially considering his illustrious career and track record of success in Formula 1. As a seven-time world champion, Hamilton is accustomed to fighting for victories and podium finishes, making a ninth-place result a disappointment for him and the Mercedes team.
“I wouldn’t say I’m having fun. I mean, I’m racing for ninth, so I definitely can’t say that. Finishing ninth is definitely not fun.”
“But I am enjoying the actual racing part. And I was hunting and I was pushing as hard as I could, I was maximising everything I had with the car, I was right on the edge.” – Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton claims he felt like racing in a ‘different category’ in Jeddah
Reflecting on the performance of the Mercedes W15, Hamilton noted its strengths and weaknesses. While the car showed competitiveness in low and medium-speed corners, Hamilton acknowledged that the team struggled in high-speed sections of the circuit. This deficiency in high-speed performance proved to be a significant obstacle for Mercedes, particularly when trying to keep up with the pace of McLaren and other competitors.
“We’re good in the low-speed, and some of the medium-speed, we’re not so bad. It’s just really the high-speed, so we just have to add performance.”
Hamilton emphasized the importance of Mercedes improving its performance in high-speed corners to remain competitive in the championship battle. He stressed the need for the team to address this issue through in-season upgrades and development efforts, highlighting the ongoing work required to close the performance gap with rival teams.
During the race, Hamilton felt like he was racing in a different category compared to his competitors, particularly in high-speed corners where Mercedes lagged behind. This disparity in performance highlighted the challenges faced by Hamilton and the Mercedes team in maintaining competitiveness against faster opponents.
“It was like I was in a different category when I was going through the high speed with the other guys around me.”
Despite the difficulties encountered at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Hamilton remains hopeful for the future races. He expressed optimism that he and his teammate George Russell can continue to fight for podium positions and improve the performance of the Mercedes team as the season progresses.
