Hamilton’s Struggles Continue in Jeddah as FIA Hands Down Penalty Verdict
Lewis Hamilton endured yet another challenging outing during the final practice session at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah, further compounding what has been a difficult start to the weekend for the seven-time world champion. While his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc managed to secure a solid fifth-place finish in FP3, Hamilton could only muster a lap good enough for 12th, continuing a trend of underwhelming performances.
To add to his frustrations, the FIA handed Hamilton a penalty verdict, deepening the gloom around his Saudi Arabian campaign. Details of the decision have yet to be fully released, but the timing couldn’t be worse for the F1 icon, who is still adapting to life at Ferrari following his high-profile switch from Mercedes.
While Hamilton struggled, it was McLaren that dominated the session. Lando Norris delivered an impressive performance to top the timesheets, setting the fastest lap with a time of 1:27.489 around the high-speed Jeddah Corniche Circuit. The Brit was closely followed by his teammate Oscar Piastri, who trailed by just 0.024 seconds, highlighting McLaren’s rapid pace and strong one-lap form heading into qualifying.
Mercedes’ George Russell showed signs of promise as well, placing third in the session. His lap time ensured he was the best of the rest behind the McLaren duo, and Mercedes will be encouraged by his consistent pace.
Meanwhile, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who has been the dominant force in Formula 1 over the past few seasons, appeared to face some uncharacteristic struggles. The reigning world champion finished fourth, but his best time was over eight-tenths of a second behind Norris — a significant margin by F1 standards. Red Bull engineers will undoubtedly be working intensely to identify the source of the performance drop, as they aim to return to the top ahead of the all-important qualifying session later in the day.
Verstappen’s pace in FP3 was far from the form he’s become known for, and it suggests that Red Bull may be dealing with setup or balance issues on the twisty, high-speed Jeddah street circuit. Although Verstappen has shown the ability to bounce back quickly, the team will be wary of McLaren’s rising threat.
Back at Ferrari, Leclerc’s P5 finish was respectable, but Hamilton’s P12 raised eyebrows. The Brit has yet to fully settle into his new environment at the Italian team, and the pressure is mounting to produce results. The Jeddah layout, known for its fast corners and tight walls, demands confidence and precision — something Hamilton seemed to lack throughout the practice session.
The penalty handed down by the FIA adds another layer of complexity to Hamilton’s race weekend. While specifics remain unclear, any grid drop or time penalty could significantly hamper his chances of recovery in both qualifying and the race.
As qualifying approaches, the grid appears more competitive than ever, with McLaren’s surge in pace shaking up the usual hierarchy. Mercedes seem to be gaining traction, Red Bull is on the back foot, and Ferrari’s performance is mixed — consistent from Leclerc, but uncertain from Hamilton.
With Norris and Piastri leading the way and Verstappen showing signs of vulnerability, the stage is set for an exciting qualifying session. All eyes will be on Hamilton to see whether he can respond to adversity, overcome his penalty, and climb back into contention at one of the most unforgiving circuits on the calendar.
