Lewis Hamilton feels he has finally figured out how to get the most out of Ferrari's SF-25 car, having registered his best finish with the Scuderia at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Hamilton finished fifth at Sakhir, one place behind team-mate Charles Leclerc, to beat his previous best placing of 2025 – P7 at the Japanese Grand Prix a week earlier.

It was an encouraging drive from the seven-time world champion after he qualified for the fourth race of the year in a disappointing ninth.

A despondent Hamilton said after qualifying that he simply wasn't doing his job, but he now believes taking things back to basics is the way to go. 

"I think what's clear is, us as humans, I guess we get really stuck in our ways," Hamilton told Sky Sports after Sunday's race.

"I think I've been driving a certain style and a certain way with the same team for such a long time, and I've moved to a new car and it requires a different driving style and settings.

"I'm using engine braking, which we've never used in my previous years, and different brakes.

"This car just requires a much different driving style so I'm adjusting to that and I think I am slowly getting it into my head."

Making moves in the desert  pic.twitter.com/6GniZbBYyy

— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) April 14, 2025

With 25 points, eight of them earned by winning the sprint race in China, Hamilton is seventh in the drivers' championship standings, with Leclerc fifth on 32 points.

And with the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix up next this weekend, Hamilton will take a leaf out of his team-mate's book.

He said: "I think what's clear is that Charles starts with a setup and he stays with it pretty much all weekend, and I was a long way away from him last weekend and this weekend.

"I've got to just make it easier for myself. I'm doing it all the hard way at the moment. I'll try next week to start in a better place and not deviate from that too much.

"I think I've figured out how the car likes to drive so hopefully, if I can apply that next week, if I can qualify better, I can have a much better weekend. We'll see."