Hamilton faced a challenging weekend in Jeddah, with a disappointing qualifying placing him in eighth and a subsequent ninth-place finish after a gamble to maintain track position under the safety car proved unsuccessful.
The layout of the track accentuated the car’s struggles in fast corners, with both Hamilton and teammate George Russell being outpaced by at least one car from Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren, and Aston Martin, effectively positioning Mercedes as the fifth fastest team.
Team principal Toto Wolff acknowledged a “fundamental” issue with the car affecting its performance in high-speed corners.
Hamilton acknowledged the potential for difficult weekends ahead as improvements to the W15 may take time. “It’s going to be challenging in these next races,” he remarked. “I think all the high-speed circuits we are going to be at a disadvantage with the package we currently have.”
Reflecting on his experience during the race, Hamilton expressed mixed sentiments. Despite relishing the racing aspect, particularly his battle with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, he couldn’t derive much joy from the final result. “I wouldn’t say I’m having fun,” he confessed. “I mean, I’m racing for ninth, so I definitely can’t say that.”
Hamilton emphasized the need for improvements, particularly in high-speed performance, to elevate Mercedes’ competitiveness. He highlighted the discrepancy in performance, noting, “It was like I was in a different category when I was going through the high speed with the other guys around me.”
The seven-time world champion expressed frustration over the team’s consistent challenges, despite the optimism surrounding the car’s launch. “It’s frustrating to three years in a row be in almost the same position,” he lamented. “It’s tough, but we’ll get our heads down and keep working away.”
Hamilton underscored the necessity for significant changes to enhance performance, acknowledging the differing concepts employed by leading teams. “We’ve got to make some big changes,” he concluded. “We haven’t made big enough changes, perhaps.”
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