Lewis Hamilton has admitted he needs a "brain transplant" to adapt to Ferrari's SF-25 car as his struggles with the Italian team continue. The seven-time world champion has endured a difficult start to his Ferrari career since his blockbuster move from Mercedes.
Hamilton qualified a disappointing seventh for the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, being outqualified by the Williams of former Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz Jr.
"The lap was bad," Hamilton told Viaplay after qualifying in Jeddah.
Despite making it into Q3, Hamilton has been frank about his discomfort in the car, responding with brutal honesty when asked what he needs to get to grips with the SF-25.
Lewis Hamilton has admitted some major problems at Ferrari
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"Every time I get to Q3 all the hard work kind of disappears," Hamilton lamented. "But anyway, P7 is better than nothing, so I'll try and do something from there tomorrow."
The Briton's struggles were particularly evident in the technical sections of the Jeddah circuit.
"It's not the end of the world, but there's tonnes of time just sitting there that I'm not extracting," he explained.
Hamilton lapped 0.531 seconds slower than teammate Charles Leclerc, who secured fourth on the grid.
"Losing two-tenths just in the last sector, three tenths in the first sector, a tenth in the middle sector. It's just not good enough," Hamilton admitted with characteristic frankness.
In a concerning development for the British racing legend, Hamilton revealed that his performances have not been well-received by Ferrari's leadership.
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"I know that the fans aren't happy. I'm sure the team are not happy. I know the bosses are not happy," Hamilton disclosed.
This candid admission highlights the mounting pressure on the seven-time world champion as he attempts to find his footing with the prestigious Italian outfit.
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has acknowledged the issues, stating: "P4 is not that bad, P7 is a bit more difficult, but overall it's not a matter of position.
"For me it's more a matter of pace."
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Lewis Hamilton has admitted struggling getting to grips with a new car
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Despite these challenges, Hamilton remains only seven points behind Leclerc in the Drivers' Championship.
Hamilton remains determined to overcome these early setbacks at Ferrari.
"I am working really, really hard at it. It's not coming easy at all," he insisted.
The transition to the SF-25 has proven more challenging than anticipated for the British driver.
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"I've just got to keep on taking a deep breath," Hamilton said, showing his resilience despite the difficulties.
His commitment to improvement remains unwavering despite the pressure.
"All I can continue to do is continue to try believe in myself, stay positive and keep working at it. And that's what I'm trying to do," Hamilton affirmed.
Vasseur believes Ferrari will be more competitive in race trim than they were in qualifying.
