Lewis Hamilton’s difficulties in qualifying, which emerged during his final season with Mercedes, have followed him into his debut campaign with Ferrari. Ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc holds a commanding 3-1 lead in their qualifying head-to-head, underscoring the challenges Hamilton continues to face in adapting to the SF-25.
While some leniency can be granted due to Hamilton still getting to grips with a fundamentally different car, questions are already being asked about his one-lap pace. Until the seven-time world champion begins to close the gap to Charles Leclerc with more regularity, speculation about a steady Saturday decline will only intensify. Although he delivered an exceptional qualifying performance in China—securing pole position for the Sprint and later outperforming the Monegasque driver again in Grand Prix qualifying—that moment is beginning to look more like an anomaly than a sign of resurgence.
The numbers tell a stark story: Hamilton was outqualified by two-tenths in Australia, by three in Japan, and by a worrying six in Bahrain. These figures are even more concerning when viewed alongside his 2024 record at Mercedes, where George Russell comfortably led the qualifying battle 19-5. Ironically, the Briton’s average qualifying deficit to his teammate has actually grown slightly since moving to Ferrari—from 0.25% last year to 0.3% in the current season.
Why Oscar Piastri’s Qualifying Revival Could Inspire Lewis Hamilton
F1 analyst Ted Kravitz, speaking on Sky Sports’ F1 Show, used Oscar Piastri’s recent improvement as an example that Hamilton might draw encouragement from. Qualifying had been a clear weakness for Oscar Piastri during his rookie campaign in 2024, but the McLaren driver has turned that around dramatically in 2025.
Last season, Oscar Piastri was thoroughly outperformed by teammate Lando Norris, who dominated their qualifying head-to-head 21-3. However, the duo are now tied 2-2 across the first four rounds of the season. Even more impressively, Piastri secured his maiden pole position in Shanghai and followed it with another in Bahrain, suggesting a major leap forward in his one-lap performance.
Much of that success is credited to the focused work Piastri undertook with his engineering team over the winter break. The McLaren driver has managed to convert previous weaknesses into a strength—something Hamilton may look to replicate as he seeks to regain the edge that once made him the sport’s qualifying benchmark.
Kravitz implied that Hamilton could benefit from adopting a similar approach, particularly as Hamilton himself has acknowledged the need for more intensive qualifying preparation. The suggestion was that by examining the methods behind Piastri’s improvement, the Ferrari driver could rediscover some of the form that previously earned him a record 104 pole positions.
In the meantime, the Australian’s rise continues. With his 12th Formula 1 podium, the young Australian surpassed the legendary Ayrton Senna in total points scored for McLaren—a significant milestone, even if he still trails Hamilton’s massive tally with the team by over 450 points.
David Coulthard Expresses Concern Over Hamilton’s One-Lap Decline
Following a disappointing ninth-place effort in Bahrain qualifying, Lewis Hamilton sounded dispirited over team radio, offering little explanation for his lack of pace and instead apologizing to the team. Post-race, however, his tone was more composed, with Hamilton expressing cautious optimism that he was beginning to understand the Ferrari SF-25 more clearly. He indicated that any real judgement on his form should be deferred until the season has fully unfolded.
Still, concerns persist from within the paddock. Former F1 driver and current pundit David Coulthard voiced his unease over Hamilton’s fading Saturday form, suggesting the Briton may be losing the very “superpowers” that once defined his qualifying performances. As the all-time pole position leader, Hamilton’s one-lap prowess has long been a hallmark of his greatness, which makes the current trend difficult to watch for longtime observers.
Encouragingly, Lewis Hamilton appears determined not to repeat the mistakes of recent years. Unlike his final season at Mercedes, where aggressive setup experiments often left him uncomfortable and off the pace, he is reportedly taking a more measured and structured approach at Ferrari. That strategic reset could prove crucial if he is to reverse his Saturday fortunes and mount a meaningful comeback against Charles Leclerc as the season progresses.
Apr 18, 2025
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