Lewis Hamilton looked like he could challenge for the race win at the British GP, after looking quick during the practice sessions. The seven-time world champion had a disappointing qualifying session and made a mistake on his final run. This left him in P5, but still believed he could stand on the rostrum in front of his home fans.
However, on Sunday, the rain came, making conditions mixed between wet and dry. This took the SF-25 out of its sweet spot, and it was tricky to drive, as he finished off the podium for the first time since 2014. Hamilton, who has won the British GP nine times, claimed the car was too snappy in the conditions.
Lewis Hamilton says the SF-25 was “tricky to drive” in the mixed conditions at the British GP
Lewis Hamilton came home in fourth position at the British GP, leaving Nico Hulkenberg to stand on the podium for the first time in his career. The SF-25 had looked like one of the cars to beat on Friday and Saturday mornings, but the weather made it hard to drive. Hamilton himself is a rain master, having won at Silverstone last year in similar conditions. But the 40-year-old says the car was too snappy.
Speaking after the race, he said: “It’s the most difficult car I’ve driven here in a few years. I just struggled to keep up. The tyres dropped off massively. The car was unbelievably tricky to drive.”
Lewis Hamilton’s podium streak at the British Grand Prix has ended 🇬🇧❌ pic.twitter.com/7cREhBsBTk
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) July 7, 2025
“It’s the worst feeling. It’s not a great feeling, I’ll tell you. It’s when you just can’t sit back and be confident, you can lean in the rear end. When it’s constantly snapping, you just have no confidence.”
“I think ultimately I learned a lot today, there’s lots to take from the day. It’s only my second time driving in the wet in this car. I can’t even express to you how hard it is. It’s not a car that likes those conditions.”
The result means that Hamilton is yet to stand on the podium for the Scuderia in the opening twelve races. He is also 16 points behind his teammate Charles Leclerc, who failed to score at Silverstone. But there is a silver lining for Hamilton and Ferrari.
New Ferrari upgrade could help Lewis Hamilton
The floor upgrade that Ferrari introduced in Austria helped the team become the second fastest on the grid. At Silverstone, the upgrade also looked to be working on Friday. Small mistakes cost the Ferrari drivers a higher qualifying spot, meaning they could have started the race from a better position.
Lewis Hamilton Sparks Ferrari Revival Talk After Surprising Austria Surge From Mega Upgrade
Ferrari is bringing a rear suspension upgrade to the next race weekend in Belgium. This is reported to be the team’s final upgrade before they fully concentrate on the 2026 car. Hamilton is hoping this will help balance the car.
He said he wanted a car that has “a consistent balance. A car that turns at a low speed. A more stable car.”
He and Ferrari will be hoping that the final upgrade can produce what the seven-time world champion requires to win races. With the team now turning their attention to next season’s car, this is their last chance to find the missing piece to make the SF-25 a winner.
