Lew beginnings look old hat already

LL Lewis Hamilton could do was shake his head as he studied the timing screens, the look of disbelief at the size of the gap to those ahead said it all.

- By Daniel Moxon

Seventh on the grid after qualifying for the Saudi Grand Prix is not what the seven-time Formula One champion came to Ferrari for after leaving Mercedes.

He was almost a full second slower around the Jeddah Corniche Circuit than pole-sitter Max Verstappen — and the following day was no better.

While team-mate Charles Leclerc secured Ferrari’s first podium of 2025 by continuing his steady improvement, Hamilton remained rooted to seventh place and looked a defeated man in post-race interviews.

“It’s going to be painful,” he said, referring to the rest of a first season with Ferrari which began with so much hype and expectation.

Was he already writing off the year after just five rounds of a 24-event season? It sounded like it.