Lewis Hamilton admits he’s lucky to reach Q3. After a difficult weekend, seventh place feels like a small but vital win.
It was a mixed bag of emotions after qualifying in Jeddah. While Charles Leclerc hoped for more, Lewis Hamilton was just glad to make it into the final shootout.
Hamilton: “Grateful to Even Make Q3”
For Lewis Hamilton, qualifying seventh was less about disappointment and more about relief. After a rough weekend where he struggled to break into the top ten during practice, Q3 felt like an achievement.
“Qualifying was tough, as always,” Hamilton said. “I’ve been nowhere all weekend—P13 in almost every session. So honestly, I’m just thankful to be in Q3 and to come out seventh.”
Hamilton admitted his final lap wasn’t amazing, but he’s taking the small wins.
“It wasn’t a standout lap, but I’ve been improving bit by bit. I needed something better at the end, but like I said, I’m grateful to be here. There’s still a lot of time to find.”
As for the race?
“Let’s hope it goes better. Honestly, I’m praying more than hoping! I’m still struggling to really connect with the car over one lap, but we’re not giving up. When you want it bad enough, you keep fighting. We’ve got incredible support, and we’ll keep working hard.”
Leclerc: “It’s Frustrating – We Just Don’t Have the Pace”
Charles Leclerc secured fourth on the grid in Saudi Arabia, but the Ferrari driver had clearly set his sights higher—especially with Lando Norris out early in Q3. A spot in the top three felt within reach, but the pace simply wasn’t there.
“I’m disappointed—again,” Leclerc admitted. “It’s been the same story since the start of the season. I gave it everything. The lap felt good, the car was tough to handle, but I pushed it to the limit. Unfortunately, we’re still lacking performance—about three or four tenths off.”
When asked if he was driving at the car’s limit, Leclerc didn’t hesitate:
“Yes, every lap. The balance is actually quite good now, but we’re just missing grip overall. That’s what makes it tough—when you feel like you’ve nailed the lap, but the car still doesn’t give enough. In corners like Turn 13 or 16, there’s just too much oversteer, not enough grip. All I can do is keep pushing.”
Looking ahead to the race, Leclerc wasn’t overly optimistic:
“Honestly, it’s going to be tough to move up. It’s a fast, street-style track, and overtaking isn’t easy here. But if I can get a strong start—who knows?”
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