Lewis Hamilton has alarmingly admitted that he feels Ferrari's issues could last for the entire season after his problems at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Sunday.
The veteran, 40, has struggled since joining the team from Mercedes.
Hamilton started the event in seventh after struggling in qualifying and ended up finishing there, too, with Oscar Piastri securing glory.
At the start of the campaign, many were hopeful the Stevenage-born racer would wind back time and compete for glory once again.
Lewis Hamilton has alarmingly admitted that he feels Ferrari's issues could last for the entire season after his problems at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Sunday
REUTERS
Just five races in, however, it's abundantly clear that both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are up against it.
The Briton finished over 30 seconds behind his team-mate, who managed to secure a spot on the podium.
And Hamilton is alarmed, with the veteran confessing that he feels the team's issues could last for the entire season.
"Nothing positive to take, except for Charles finishing on the podium, which is great for the team," he stated.
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"It was horrible, not enjoyable at all. I was just sliding around. I didn't have grip.
"First stint, massive understeer, car not turning and then massive deg. The second stint, slightly better balance but still just no pace. Pretty bad."
He continued: "At the moment there's no fix. So, this is how it's going to be for the rest of the year. It's going to be painful."
While Hamilton toiled again, Leclerc's podium was the only positive for Ferrari.
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Oscar Piastri tops the table in the World Championship after winning the Saudi Arabian Grand PrixReutersOn his team-mate clinching third, behind Piastri and Max Verstappen, Hamilton said: "He [Leclerc] has been driving this car for a long time, so he definitely knows it really well.
"There's plenty in the data, for sure. Honestly, it doesn't look massively different in the data. I just go slower through the corners.
"We do have slightly different set-ups. I have to look and see whether that set-up is the way the car likes to be. He and his side are definitely obviously doing a better job.
"In qualifying it's me extracting performance. In the race, I tried everything, and the car just didn't want to go quicker."
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Meanwhile, Verstappen was given an early five-second penalty during the race.
This annoyed the Red Bull star, who said: "I'm going to keep it quite short.
"I want to say a big thank you to the fans in Jeddah. It's been a great weekend along the track and the rest is what it is. I'm looking forward to Miami. See you there."
As for Piastri, the McLaren star was delighted after winning his third race of the campaign.
Lewis Hamilton could only finish seventh at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
REUTERS
"Once I got on the inside I wasn't coming out of Turn One in second," he said.
"I tried my best and obviously the stewards had to get involved, but I thought I was far enough and in the end that's what got me the race.
"I'm very happy with all the work we've been doing on the starts and that's what won the race for us today."
