Lewis Hamilton expressed deep frustration with Ferrari’s strategy and his own errors during the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, revealing he had no confidence in the unpredictable Ferrari SF-25. These difficulties prevented him from achieving his first podium with Ferrari as he struggled to maintain pace throughout the race.
Despite expecting better results, Hamilton found that much of his progress was lost due to questionable decisions and the car’s instability in challenging conditions, hampering any chance to place higher on the leaderboard.
Race Day Chaos Leads to Missed Podium Opportunity
The rain-affected British Grand Prix set the stage for an unexpected outcome, with McLaren securing a dominant one-two finish thanks to Lando Norris claiming his first home victory and Oscar Piastri’s penalty. Hamilton, however, fought hard behind the leading pack, contending with Nico Hulkenberg and Lance Stroll for the final spot on the podium.
Hamilton successfully overtook Stroll and put pressure on Hulkenberg, but a crucial moment came during the last pit stop phase when drivers switched from intermediate to slick tires. Hulkenberg’s delay by one lap allowed him to create a lead that secured him his first Formula 1 podium, leaving Hamilton to settle for fourth place.
Compounding the setback, Hamilton suffered an immediate off-track excursion as he exited the pit lane, a moment he regrets along with the overall mistakes by himself and Ferrari.
We lost a lot of places through strategy,
Hamilton said to Sky F1.
He added that the drop from fourth to eighth after his stop made it difficult to recover, as he was stuck behind Pierre Gasly, Hulkenberg, and Stroll for much of the race. Hamilton had aimed for an early pit stop hoping for an undercut advantage, but the car’s poor handling in these conditions complicated this plan.
So, big snap and wide in Turn 3, it lost me a ton of time. Then I had a wide at… Lot’s of mistakes. Not a good day.
Handling the Challenging Conditions Proved Difficult
When asked about managing the uncertain weather and track conditions, Hamilton described the experience as the “worst feeling,” underscoring his struggle to find stability in the SF-25. The car’s rear end was continuously unstable, leaving him without confidence to push harder.
It’s the worst feeling,
he explained, adding that the SF-25’s constant snapping made it impossible to trust the rear end.
He compared his efforts to build confidence in the car to repeatedly constructing and then destroying a wall, emphasizing the frustration of making no real progress during the race.
So, that’s kind of how it felt for most of the race.
Comparisons with Teammate and Implications for Ferrari’s Future
Hamilton’s performance stood out less favorably compared to teammate Charles Leclerc, who struggled even more and finished 14th. This contrast highlighted ongoing difficulties within Ferrari as the team looks ahead to future seasons.
Hamilton also voiced concerns that some of the fundamental issues with the SF-25 cannot carry forward into the car Ferrari develops for 2026, when new chassis and engine rules will be introduced.
It was the most difficult car I’ve driven here,
Hamilton shared with media outlets including PlanetF1.com.
He noted it was only his second experience driving the Ferrari in wet conditions and emphasized how extremely challenging it was to control.
It’s not a car that likes those conditions. But having lots of data to take from this, I mean, for me, I might have to sit down with the people that are designing the car for next year, because there’s elements of this car that cannot go into the following year.
Championship Standings and Looking Ahead
Following Silverstone, Hamilton sits sixth in the Drivers’ Championship, now trailing Leclerc by 16 points. The performance gaps and ongoing struggles with the SF-25 highlight the urgent need for Ferrari to address critical weaknesses before the next season.
The British Grand Prix underscored how both driver and team must improve their strategy and the car’s reliability if they hope to challenge for top honors again, particularly with significant regulation changes looming in 2026.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Lewis Hamilton 40 years old?
A. Lewis Hamilton is the first driver over the age of 40 to achieve pole position since Nigel Mansell.
Q. Is Lewis Hamilton vegan?
A. Race car driver Lewis Hamilton is open about his passion for vegan living. He also invests in businesses focused on plant-based products.
Q. Is Lewis Hamilton still vegan?
A. Interestingly, I’ve actually lost some weight. His pizzas likely contribute to this because they do not contain cheese. Since 2017, Hamilton has supported veganism and spoken out about the benefits of a plant-based diet.
Q. Who did Lewis Hamilton date for 8 years?
A. Nicole Scherzinger: 2007-2015 F1 driver Lewis Hamilton and singer Nicole Scherzinger started dating after the 2007 MTV Awards. Their relationship included many breakups and makeups over the eight years until they ended things in 2015.
