Karun Chandhok hails ‘defensive masterclass’ from one driver at Saudi GP

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Lewis Hamilton did a ‘fantastic job’ to hold off the McLaren of Oscar Piastri during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Sky Sports F1 pundit Karun Chandhok says.

Hamilton and Piastri battled it out for fourth position on the road in Jeddah before the former made his pit stop.

And Chandhok felt that the seven-time world champion produced a defensive exhibition to keep the place.

Hamilton had stayed out when Lance Stroll’s crash brought out the safety car, as had Piastri’s teammate Lando Norris.

The Mercedes driver, on older medium tyres, lost positions to Red Bull driver Sergio Perez and the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc.

Piastri enjoyed the same tyre advantage on fresher hards but wasn’t able to pass Hamilton despite several DRS-assisted attempts into the first corner.

There were a couple of occasions where the 22-year-old nudged ahead but ran wide and had to give the place back.

McLaren complained to the stewards because they believed that Hamilton had been weaving on the straight at one stage, but nothing came of it.

The 39-year-old ultimately finished in ninth place after dropping down the order when he pitted, freeing up Piastri.

Karun Chandhok showers praise on Lewis Hamilton

Speaking during Sky Sports F1’s coverage of the race, Chandhok noted that Hamilton was smartly positioning his car for the turn-one braking zone.

He felt it was a valiant effort from the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix winner, who had been on the back foot.

He said: “Lewis is putting on a bit of a defensive masterclass, it has to be said, down into turn one.

“He’s running along the inside line, indicating to Oscar, ‘listen, you try and come even tighter, you’re not going to have space there’, but then just moving back to the middle of the road so he can brake for the first corner on the cleaner part of the track, doesn’t have a lock-up.

“He’s really, really doing a fantastic job on tyres that are seven laps older on one step softer compound, compared to the McLaren.”

Hamilton wrestles with Mercedes in Saudi Arabia

Despite his stout defence against Piastri, Hamilton ultimately picked up just two points from the race.

It was another difficult weekend for the veteran, with BBC pundit Jack Aitken noting that he was struggling with the rear end of his car in qualifying.

He hadn’t been happy in practice either, telling Mercedes to fix the bouncing he was experiencing.

Hamilton has failed to finish in the top six at either of the two Grands Prix in 2024 so far, and will hope for a better showing when the season resumes in Australia in a fortnight’s time.