Sebastian Vettel outlines Ferrari’s path to making Lewis Hamilton’s debut season a triumph. Lewis Hamilton targets his first Ferrari podium at the Saudi Arabian GP.

Lewis Hamilton Eyes First Ferrari Podium at Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

As the Formula 1 season heads to Jeddah, Lewis Hamilton is aiming for his first Sunday podium finish with Ferrari at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. While the seven-time world champion has already celebrated a Sprint race victory, a top-three result in the main Grand Prix would carry far more significance for both driver and team.

Hamilton’s start to life in red has been turbulent. After managing only 10th place on his Ferrari debut at the Albert Park circuit in Australia, he was disqualified from the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai due to a technical infringement. A seventh-place finish in Japan offered little consolation, though a fifth-place result in Bahrain was a step forward. Ferrari’s upgraded SF-25 showed encouraging signs over the course of the 57-lap contest, and insiders suggest that performance gains from updates often take multiple races to fully materialize. As the series now moves to Saudi Arabia, the Maranello team are quietly optimistic that Hamilton could unlock as much as a 30% performance boost.

The Scuderia are currently enduring their longest podium drought since the four-race dry spell that began with the 2022 Miami Grand Prix. Hamilton, who won the inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in 2021, has since failed to qualify inside the top six on any of his three return visits. He arrives in Jeddah sitting seventh in the drivers’ standings—mirroring his final position with Mercedes in 2024. Ferrari, fourth in the constructors’ championship, are now eyeing the faltering Red Bull team as potential targets, should momentum shift.

Sebastian Vettel Backs Hamilton Amid Ferrari Transition

Sebastian Vettel, a former Ferrari driver and four-time world champion, shared his thoughts with Sky Sports Germany on Hamilton’s adjustment period at Maranello. He emphasized the complexity of joining a team as distinctive as Ferrari, where the pressure to succeed is often as intense as the passion surrounding the badge. Vettel noted that while the Briton remains one of the most talented drivers on the grid—regardless of his age—adapting to a new environment inevitably requires time.

Vettel expressed confidence that Ferrari’s season could take a sharp upward turn once their development direction stabilizes. He cautioned, however, that if early upgrades fail to deliver, the team might be forced to reconsider their 2025 strategy and shift focus toward the sweeping regulation changes coming in 2026. Still, he pointed out that Ferrari were within 14 points of the constructors’ title in 2024, suggesting that critics should not rush to judgment based on the opening four rounds.

He described the transition as multifaceted, involving not just technical challenges but also cultural shifts, including language and internal dynamics. Vettel believes Hamilton is more than capable of delivering results, but acknowledged that acclimating to Ferrari’s unique structure takes patience. He reminded fans that Ferrari remain a formidable force and that dismissing the team—or its drivers—would be premature.

Ted Kravitz Suggests Oscar Piastri as a Qualifying Benchmark for Hamilton

Ted Kravitz weighed in on the seven-time Formula 1 world champion’s recent qualifying struggles, suggesting that the British driver could benefit from observing Oscar Piastri’s progress. The Australian has made notable strides on Saturdays this season, significantly improving on his 2024 performances. Ted Kravitz implied that adopting elements of the Australian’s approach could help Lewis Hamilton find critical one-lap pace—an area where teammate Charles Leclerc currently holds the edge.

Lewis Hamilton finds himself in a position reminiscent of the German driver’s final years with the Italian side. Despite Sebastian Vettel’s early success—including a race win on his second Ferrari start and multiple podiums—his form declined following the arrival of Charles Leclerc in 2019. Eventually, the Monegasque’s rise led to Sebastian Vettel’s departure. Lewis Hamilton now faces a similar challenge as Charles Leclerc continues to extract more consistent pace from the SF-25, particularly in terms of qualifying performance.

Nonetheless, the Briton recently said in Bahrain that he feels increasingly comfortable with the car and believes progress is underway. Qualifying performance will be a critical area for improvement if he hopes to close the gap and compete regularly for podiums.