Lewis Hamilton Endures Disappointing Saudi GP as Business Closure Adds to Difficult Week

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton faced a challenging weekend both on and off the track. At the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Hamilton struggled to find form, finishing seventh in both qualifying and the race. The underwhelming result came amid high expectations, especially after his impressive Sprint win in China earlier this season, which had momentarily reignited hopes of a Ferrari resurgence.

Hamilton, who joined Ferrari this year in a highly anticipated move, has yet to fully adapt to the new machinery. At the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, teammate Charles Leclerc consistently outpaced him, qualifying half a second faster and securing Ferrari’s first podium of the season. The contrast between the two drivers was stark — while Leclerc pushed the limits of the car, Hamilton appeared off the pace and admitted to lacking grip throughout the race weekend. “There’s no fix for this,” Hamilton confessed in a post-race interview, a stark departure from his more hopeful tone just a day earlier.

Despite making a strong start and overtaking Carlos Sainz, Hamilton couldn’t hold back Lando Norris and failed to reel in young driver Kimi Antonelli, ultimately finishing more than 30 seconds behind Leclerc. The result leaves Hamilton trailing his teammate by 16 points in the championship standings, raising concerns about whether he can return to form in time to make a significant impact this season.

Adding to his troubles, news broke this week that one of Hamilton’s business ventures has closed its doors, resulting in dozens of job losses. While the nature of the business was not disclosed publicly, sources suggest it was part of his expanding portfolio beyond racing — potentially in the hospitality or fashion industries, where Hamilton has been known to invest. The closure is seen as a tough blow, not only for Hamilton personally but also for the employees affected.

Though there’s no direct link between his on-track struggles and the business closure, the timing has cast a shadow over what has been a difficult period for the British star. Nevertheless, Hamilton remains focused on turning things around. “I’ll keep pushing,” he said. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

As the season continues, fans and critics alike will be watching closely to see whether Hamilton can rediscover his winning form and help Ferrari close the gap to Red Bull and Mercedes. For now, however, it’s clear that Hamilton is in the midst of one of the most challenging phases of his illustrious career — both on and off the track.