Lewis Hamilton faced a challenging race at the British Grand Prix, marking the end of his 12-year streak of podium finishes at Silverstone. Competing in his first race with Ferrari, Hamilton described his car as the most difficult he has driven there, reflecting his struggles amid mixed weather conditions during the event.
Hamilton’s history at Silverstone is remarkable, having won the race nine times and consistently finishing in the top three since 2014. This season marked a fresh chapter as he competed for Ferrari, a move that brought high expectations following a solid performance in Friday’s practice sessions. The Italian team’s recent upgrade showed promise, enabling both Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc to contend for pole position during Saturday’s qualifying session. However, a late mistake pushed them to start from the third row on the grid.
The race itself unfolded under unpredictable weather, adding complexity for all drivers. Hamilton finished fourth, just behind the Sauber team, unable to reach the podium for the first time in over a decade at this Grand Prix. After the race, Hamilton openly expressed his frustrations with the Ferrari’s handling and tire performance.
Hamilton describes the Ferrari’s demanding nature at Silverstone
Reflecting on his experience, Hamilton emphasized the difficulty of managing the car in challenging conditions. He stated,
“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. Ultimately, I learned a lot today. It’s only my second time driving in the wet in this car. I can’t even express to you how hard it is.” —Lewis Hamilton, F1 Driver
He also noted the car’s unsuitability for the wet track, adding,
“It’s not a car that likes those conditions. But having lots of data to take from this… for me, it will be nice to sit down with the people that designed the car for this year, because there’s elements of this car that no one else can look to.” —Lewis Hamilton, F1 Driver
Hamilton outlines improvements he hopes to see in Ferrari’s performance
Asked about potential upgrades, Hamilton emphasized the need for a more balanced and stable car, particularly one that performs better in low-speed corners. Despite the challenges, he found positives in the car’s evolution over recent races and praised the progress demonstrated during the weekend.
“Probably a consistent balance. A car that turns at a low speed. A more stable car. But I think we were looking great through this weekend. In practice we’re always right up there. Still we’re not able to fully extract everything in quali, and then the race is a little bit harder.” —Lewis Hamilton, F1 Driver
This race also highlighted a shift in the dynamic within the Ferrari team, as Hamilton outperformed his teammate Charles Leclerc for the first time this season. Though Hamilton has taken time to adapt to the Ferrari, he is gradually becoming more comfortable with the car’s capabilities and handling characteristics.
The significance of this event lies in Hamilton’s candid remarks illustrating the difficulties he faces in extracting peak performance from a Ferrari that, while promising, still requires refinement. How the team addresses these issues will be critical for maintaining competitiveness in the remaining races of the season, especially as Hamilton continues adjusting to his new machinery and strives to uphold his legacy in Formula 1.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Lewis Hamilton 40 years old?
A. Lewis Hamilton is the first driver aged 40 or older to achieve pole position since Nigel Mansell.
Q. Is Lewis Hamilton vegan?
A. Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton openly supports veganism. He is also an investor in businesses that focus on plant-based products.
Q. Is Lewis Hamilton still vegan?
A. Interestingly, I’ve actually shed some pounds. It likely helps that his pizzas don’t have cheese. Hamilton follows a vegan diet and has promoted plant-based eating since 2017.
Q. Who did Lewis Hamilton date for 8 years?
A. After meeting at the MTV Awards in 2007, race car driver Lewis Hamilton and singer Nicole Scherzinger started a relationship. Their romance was on-and-off and spanned eight years, ending in 2015.