Lewis Hamilton has acknowledged that he needs to make a “drastic shift” in his driving style to fully adapt to Ferrari’s Formula 1 car. After spending 12 years with Mercedes, Hamilton is still adjusting to the SF-25, describing the transition as feeling “alien.” While his debut season with Ferrari has had some highs—like winning the Sprint in China from pole—it’s also had tough moments, including a ninth-place qualifying result in Bahrain.
Despite those struggles, Hamilton remained optimistic after finishing fifth in Bahrain, feeling progress was being made. Heading into the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, he emphasized the importance of evolving his approach to suit the new car, especially on circuits like Jeddah that require precision and rhythm.
He explained that while all drivers have a unique style that they tweak over time, the Ferrari demands much greater changes than he’s used to. “It might take a bit of time, but hopefully not too long,” Hamilton said, noting he found some techniques that worked better during the last race.
However, Friday practice in Jeddah was discouraging, as he only managed 13th in FP2. Reflecting on the session, Hamilton admitted, “there’s not a lot backwards for me to go from where I am,” underlining the challenge he faces.
He also shared insights from the previous race in Sakhir, saying he had learned more that weekend than in others so far, and emphasized the need to replicate that growth each weekend. On Thursday, he added that adapting consistently at every new venue would require discipline, particularly in high-pressure moments like qualifying. Hamilton concluded that resisting the urge to revert to old habits and staying patient will be critical as he continues adjusting to life in red.
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