Lewis Hamilton’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend got off to a difficult start. He was a long way of adrift of Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc during practice.
Hamilton was eighth fastest in FP1, almost exactly six-tenths behind Leclerc – the same margin as Bahrain qualifying. The conditions were more representative in FP2 when night fell at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
However, the seven-time world champion went backwards, dropping to 13th place. He was more than a second off the overall pace of Lando Norris and seven-tenths adrift of Leclerc.
Hamilton complained over the radio about problems with the tyres and car balance. He’s already spoken about having to adapt his driving style to get the best out of the SF-25 and says he made a small breakthrough in Bahrain.
Ferrari are repeatedly telling Lewis Hamilton to brake earlier like Charles Leclerc
A look at Hamilton’s radio transcript from Saudi Arabian Grand Prix practice reveals a recurring theme. Late in FP1, engineer Riccardo Adami informed the 40-year-old he was six-tenths off the pace in the first sector.
One of Adami’s suggestions was that Hamilton should brake earlier into turn four. Likewise, in FP2, he told him ‘not to push the entry’ at turn 16.
When Hamilton asked about Leclerc’s lap, he was informed that the Monegasque was applying the brakes earlier at turn five and releasing them more cleanly.
This trend predates the Saudi GP, with Adami suggesting in China that Hamilton be less aggressive into the turn 14 hairpin. And during qualifying in Bahrain, he advised his driver to brake 10 metres earlier for every corner.
It sounds as if Hamilton hasn’t learned his lesson and continues to go beyond the optimum braking point. He’s synonymous with that style, but it clearly isn’t the best way to drive the Ferrari because it’s compromising him in the mid-corner/exit phase.
Fred Vasseur’s ‘messy’ admission about Lewis Hamilton at Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Hamilton praised Leclerc’s driving style before the race, specificially his ability to cope with an unstable rear end. He’s clearly been studying the 27-year-old closely as he looks to close the gap.
However, the 105-time race-winner has admitted that he’s been too stubborn and set in his ways at times. One can understand why when his previous techniques have been so successful.
In a private paddock conversation with Karun Chandhok, Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur admitted Hamilton’s qualifying lap in Bahrain was a bit ‘messy’. The Briton was disconsolate after he only managed P9.
He apparently made a couple of mistakes in the early part of the lap, which triggered a snowball effect because it increased his tyre temperatures. Overall, one gets the sense that Hamilton may be overdriving the car given his desperation to improve.
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