Formula 1 Saudi Arabian GP
Hamilton "just trying to get in the top 10" after muted Saudi F1 practice
Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton both have a lot of work ahead after wrestling with tyre warm-up in practice for Formula 1's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Filip Cleeren
Edited: Apr 19, 2025, 9:30 AM
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Lewis Hamilton says he will do well to get into Saudi Arabia's Q3 after a low-key Friday in which getting his Ferrari in the optimal window proved challenging.
Hamilton finished 13th in second practice, held at the same time of day as qualifying and the race, shipping six tenths to Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc and 1.1s to the leading McLaren of Lando Norris.
While there is no cause for alarm after Friday practice, Hamilton wasn't overly optimistic on his chances to find a breakthrough over one lap.
"I'm just trying to see if I'm getting the top ten at the moment," he sighed. "Not the greatest, we were struggling to get the tyres working.
"Normally, Saturday goes backwards, but there's not a lot backwards for me to go from where I am. So, hopefully overnight, we'll make some improvements to the car. There were a few bits through the session that felt good, and [when I] get to the soft tyre, it's not there.
"So, we'll make some changes overnight and hope tomorrow we can come back a bit stronger."
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
As has been the case earlier this season Hamilton and Leclerc sampled different set-up directions to gather as much data as possible, with Hamilton considering moving towards his team-mate's set-up overnight.
"Possibly," he mulled over the idea before disappearing for his debrief with the Scuderia. "We'll work together tonight to see, because through both sessions we were trying different things across both cars to then converge; wing settings and all sorts.
"So, I'm hoping we'll have a better understanding after we analyse tonight, and hoping for a better day."
Leclerc also wasn't shy of experimenting with the set-up of his SF-25, which features a bespoke rear wing for Jeddah's long straights, so he felt there was more performance on the table.
"We've done a good job by exploring different options and it's pretty clear in my head what I want to do, so we are going to go into that direction and I hope that it will pay off once we get to qualifying," the Monegasque said.
"We changed the car a lot, but it was a very positive day because I've learned a lot from it. And I think once we put everything in the right window, there should be a bit more performance coming out of the car."
Photos from Saudi Arabian GP - Practice
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix - Friday
Formula 1
71
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Formula 1F1 Saudi Arabian GP: FP2 red-flagged for Yuki Tsunoda crash, Lando Norris on top
Formula 1Yuki Tsunoda takes blame for Jeddah FP2 F1 crash
Formula 1Frederic Vasseur cools Lewis Hamilton title hype after Ferrari struggles
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