Seven-time world champion struggles with balance in Silverstone storm, as Ferrari misses out on podium again.
Hamilton Battles Wet-Dry Chaos at Silverstone
Lewis Hamilton endured a frustrating afternoon at the British Grand Prix, describing his Ferrari as “the most difficult car” he’s driven in wet-dry conditions.
The race began on a damp track, transitioned into heavy rainfall, and ended in drier conditions—pushing teams and drivers to the edge with multiple tire changes and three safety car interruptions.
Despite showing promise earlier in the weekend, Hamilton finished fourth behind the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg.
“Unbelievably Tricky to Drive”
Speaking after the race, Hamilton didn’t hold back on his assessment of the car’s performance in the mixed weather.
“The car was unbelievably tricky to drive,” Hamilton said. “It’s only my second time driving this car in the wet, and I can’t express how hard it was. It’s not a car that likes those conditions.”
Hamilton emphasized the importance of translating what he’s learned into improvements for next year’s machine.
“For me, it’s about sitting down with the people designing the car for next year. There are elements of this car that cannot carry over.”
Ferrari Upgrades Still a Work in Progress
Ferrari has been rolling out updates in recent weeks, including a new floor introduced in Austria. More upgrades are expected at upcoming races, but Hamilton stressed the need for better low-speed performance and overall stability.
“What I’m looking for is a consistent balance, a car that turns at low speed, and one that’s more stable,” he explained.
While Ferrari appeared competitive during practice, qualifying and race execution fell short of expectations. Hamilton has now secured three fourth-place finishes this season but is still chasing his first podium with the Italian team.
“We looked great in practice, always up there,” Hamilton added. “But I couldn’t fully extract the car in qualifying, and the race was even harder. That’s where I need to get stronger.”
Leclerc’s Race Unravels After Tire Gamble
It was an even more disappointing day for Hamilton’s teammate, Charles Leclerc. A decision to switch to slick tires after the formation lap proved costly as track conditions remained too damp.
Leclerc, who finished 14th, second from last, admitted he had no pace and struggled to keep the car on track.
“We were kind of nowhere the whole race,” Leclerc said. “I was a second off and made a lot of mistakes. It was incredibly difficult.”
Team Principal: Dirty Air, Strategy Calls to Blame
Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur acknowledged the team’s struggle to make progress in traffic and with strategy.
“The main issue today was dirty air—whenever we were behind someone, it took 10 laps or more to get past even if we were much faster,” Vasseur said. “It was a tough race and a tough weekend overall.”
Still No Podium for Ferrari’s New Star
Hamilton, now 40, is still seeking his first podium finish with Ferrari after joining the team at the start of the 2025 season. With Formula 1 entering the second half of the calendar, pressure is mounting for the Scuderia to deliver a car capable of matching McLaren, Red Bull, and Mercedes under varied conditions.
Next up: the Hungarian Grand Prix, where Ferrari hopes its next round of upgrades can bring a more balanced performance—rain or shine.
