Lewis Hamilton believes Mercedes must make ‘big changes’ after admitting their car is still ‘miles off’ their rivals at high speed.

The seven-time world champion had produced an impressive defensive display to hold off McLaren’s Oscar Piastri for much of Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Saturday.

Piastri would eventually end well clear of Hamilton in fourth, with the Briton cutting a frustrated figure in ninth.

Hamilton was heard on team radio declaring ‘they’re killing us in the high speed’ during the race in Jeddah.

The 39-year-old admitted post race that Mercedes might not have made big enough changes to their car to be competitive against their rivals.

Lewis Hamilton admitted Mercedes need to make big changes to be competitive this season

Hamilton said the Mercedes is ‘miles off’ their rivals when racing at the highest speeds

‘The car is relatively good in the low speed and not so bad in the medium, but in the high speed we are miles off,’ Hamilton told Sky Sports.

‘It was like I was in a different category when I was going through the high speed between the other guys around me.

‘It is frustrating for sure for three years in a row to almost be in the same position, it’s tough, but we will get out heads down and keep working away.

‘We definitely have got to make some big changes, we haven’t made big enough changes, perhaps.

‘You look at the three teams ahead of us and they still have different concept to where we are in some areas.’

Hamilton’s frustration post-match reflects that the Briton looks unlikely to be challenging for the world title this season as Mercedes struggles continue.

The seven-time champion is in his final season with Mercedes before joining Ferrari in a £40million move.

Hamilton was seen congratulated 18-year-old British driver Oliver Bearman post-race on Saturday, after the teenager finished seventh on his Formula One debut.

Hamilton congratulated Oliver Bearman after the British teenager’s impressive F1 debut

Bearman had stepped in for Ferrari to replace the ill Carlos Sainz for the race, becoming the youngest Briton to race in F1.

Red Bull claimed a second successive 1-2 finish at the start of the season with defending champion Max Verstappen again beating team-mate Sergio Perez.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, McLaren’s Piastri and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso completed the top five.

Hamilton’s Mercedes team-mate George Russell finished sixth, the first of four British drivers in a row.