Lewis Hamilton 'gutted' by Mercedes struggles after grinding to a point at Saudi Arabia GP

Seven-time world champion and teammate Russell well off the pace set by Ferrari and Red Bull in Jeddah

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton leads McLaren's Lando Norris during the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on March 27, 2022 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Getty

Lewis Hamilton races during the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix. AP

Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton race during the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix. AFP

Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton (foreground) and McLaren's British driver Lando Norris (background) drive during the 2022 Saudi Arabia Formula One Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on March 27, 2022. (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP)

Lewis Hamilton in action during the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix. Reuters

Lewis Hamilton in action with ahead of Williams' Alexander Albon during the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix. Reuters

Lewis Hamilton ahead of the Saudi Arabia Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. Getty

Lewis Hamilton chats Haas driver Mick Schumacher after the drivers' parade ahead of the 2022 Saudi Arabia Grand Prix. AFP

Lewis Hamilton during the drivers parade ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Saudi Arabia. Getty

Lewis Hamilton admitted that Mercedes' early season struggles are "gutting" after grinding his way to a point at the Saudi Arabian Formula One Grand Prix on Sunday.

The sport's most successful driver with 103 wins, seven-time world champion Hamilton was heard asking his engineer if his 10th-place finish offered any reward, as he found himself racing in unfamiliar territory on his return to the track at which he claimed his most recent win last December.

"Right now we’re not fighting for the top step as you know, we’re so far off the guys up ahead," he told reporters after driving in his 180th race for Mercedes, a new record for a driver with one constructor.

"We’ve got a lot of work to do. It’s gutting but we’ll keep working hard and keep fighting."

Once dominant-Mercedes, who are still hoping to clinch a record extending ninth-straight constructors' title, have been wrong footed by Formula One's radical rules overhaul.

They are second behind a resurgent Ferrari in the overall standings, but old rivals Red Bull, who drew a blank in Bahrain, are now just one point behind following world champion Max Verstappen's first win of the season at the Jeddah Corniche track on Sunday.

Hamilton lined up 15th on the grid after failing even to make it past the first phase of qualifying on Saturday for the first time since the Brazilian Grand Prix in 2017. He progressed up the field on Sunday and ran as high as sixth behind teammate George Russell.

Russell stayed fifth but Hamilton was unfortunate not to be able to pit under a late race virtual safety car (VSC).

"The race was going relatively well on the hard tyre, was keeping up with George, putting in some decent times considering how old the tyres were," said Hamilton, who is fifth in the overall standings 29 points off Ferrari's championship leader Charles Leclerc after just two races.

"The strategy, I don’t know that or VSC, but we lost out so much."