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Hamilton Aims for Top 10 in Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Qualifying
Lewis Hamilton is setting his sights on making it into the top 10 during the qualifying session for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, following a challenging practice run in Jeddah. The seven-time world champion finished 13th in the second practice session on Friday, trailing Lando Norris by over a second and finishing six-tenths behind his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, who secured fourth place.
This performance highlights Hamilton’s struggle to adapt to his new Ferrari, particularly when compared to Leclerc, who has had an impressive start to the season. Apart from a pole position and victory during the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint, Hamilton has faced difficulties in matching Leclerc’s pace and consistency.
Reflecting on his day, Hamilton remarked, “Not the greatest. I think getting the tyres to work today was the issue from my side. It’s nothing to do with the team; we were just having trouble with the tyre performance.”
In addition to Hamilton’s struggles, the practice session featured a significant incident where Lance Stroll spun his Aston Martin, while Williams driver Alex Albon narrowly avoided crashing into Hamilton.
When asked whether he expected to improve his performance overnight with adjustments to the car, Hamilton responded cautiously, saying, “Normally Saturday tends to go backwards for me, but I hope we can make some improvements.” He acknowledged some moments of confidence during the session, particularly before transitioning to soft tyres. “However, once we got to the soft tyre, it just wasn’t there,” he noted.
His outlook on qualifying was subdued, as he conveyed uncertainty about what position he could achieve. “I don’t know,” Hamilton said. “For me, I’m just trying to see if I can get into the top 10.”
To enhance his chances for qualifying, Hamilton may consider aligning his car’s setup more closely with Leclerc’s. He has previously expressed feeling at a disadvantage due to Leclerc’s deeper understanding of the vehicle. “Possibly. We will work together tonight to see,” Hamilton stated. “Throughout both sessions, we tried different setups to converge—wing settings and various adjustments. I’m hoping that after analyzing everything tonight, we can improve tomorrow.”
Leclerc Optimistic for Qualifying Performance
In contrast to Hamilton’s anxiety, Charles Leclerc exuded optimism about his prospects for qualifying. He described Friday as a challenging day but emphasized the valuable lessons learned. “It was a tricky day. This track requires high confidence to perform optimally,” Leclerc said, adding that, despite McLaren’s strength, he believes improvements are achievable. “If we get everything right, anything is possible,” he affirmed.
Leclerc also mentioned that his plans for Saturday are clear, stating, “We explored different options today, and I know exactly the direction I want to take going into qualifying. I hope it pays off.” His confidence serves as a contrasting backdrop to Hamilton’s current frustrations, showcasing the varied experiences within the Ferrari camp as they look to capitalize on their performance in the upcoming qualifying rounds.
Upcoming Schedule for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
Saturday, April 19
1:15 PM: F1 Academy Race 1
2:05 PM: Saudi Arabian GP Practice Three (session starts at 2:30 PM)
4:10 PM: F2 Sprint
5:10 PM: Saudi Arabian GP Qualifying build-up
6:00 PM: SAUDI ARABIAN GP QUALIFYING
Sunday, April 20
1:00 PM: F1 Academy Race 2
2:20 PM: F2 Feature Race
4:30 PM: Saudi Arabian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday
6:00 PM: THE SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX
8:00 PM: Saudi Arabian GP reaction: Chequered flag
*Also live on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 concludes its first triple-header of the season in Jeddah with the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix this weekend, which will be available for viewing on Sky Sports F1.
Source
www.skysports.com