Lewis Hamilton expressed his frustration with his car`s performance and the team`s strategic decisions following the British Grand Prix, which saw his impressive run of consecutive Silverstone podium finishes come to an end. Hamilton, who had achieved a top-three result in his last 12 races at the circuit, finished a disappointing fourth in the 2025 event, behind Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and, notably, Nico Hulkenberg, who secured an unexpected first career podium starting from 19th place.
The seven-time champion faced challenges from strategic errors during a race affected by rain and multiple Safety Cars, but he primarily attributed his struggles to a “snappy” car in which he felt a distinct lack of confidence.
Describing the handling, Hamilton stated the car was “exceptionally difficult to drive.” He elaborated on its instability, noting, “It simply lacks stability. Entering corners, it keeps snapping… It just doesn`t remain settled, making it incredibly challenging.” He added that the car was reluctant to turn at low speeds, calling the overall balance “truly frustrating.” These handling issues led to Hamilton running wide several times during the race, hindering his ability to challenge Hulkenberg for the final podium spot late on.
Speaking about the lack of confidence caused by the car`s behavior, Hamilton described it as “the worst feeling.” He explained, “When the car is constantly snapping, you cannot build confidence. The aim is to gradually gain confidence and improve lap times. It feels like constructing a wall only for it to be repeatedly knocked down. Without being able to build that confidence, you find yourself unable to make progress.” He summarized his feeling for the majority of the race as being “in no man`s land.”
The difficulties with the car were exacerbated by strategic decisions that resulted in Hamilton losing valuable track position. When rain began around lap 11, his initial pit stop caused him to fall from fourth to eighth place. He then spent several laps held up behind Esteban Ocon`s Haas and Pierre Gasly`s Alpine. After eventually clearing Gasly on lap 29 and Lance Stroll on lap 35, it seemed possible for him to chase down Hulkenberg for third. However, the team`s call to pit him early for slick tires proved detrimental, as he struggled significantly on the cold rubber. Hamilton reportedly lost approximately five seconds through the first two corners after pitting, allowing Hulkenberg to extend his lead on intermediate tires before pitting himself one lap later, ultimately preventing Hamilton from securing a 13th career podium at Silverstone.
Hamilton reiterated that strategic choices cost him dearly: “We lost time and many positions due to strategy.” He expressed confusion over the initial stop, asking, “I`m not entirely sure how I went from P4 to P8. That created significant difficulty.” He added that getting stuck behind other cars for an extended period hindered his progress. Regarding the second stop, he noted, “Then I pitted early hoping for a substantial undercut, and honestly, it was incredibly challenging.” He emphasized the car`s unsuitability for the mixed conditions: “This car absolutely dislikes these conditions.” Recalling an incident, he mentioned, “A major snap sent me wide in Turn Three, costing me a huge amount of time. There were numerous errors. It simply wasn`t a positive day.”
Post-race, Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur explained that some strategy decisions were made “blindly” because their GPS system had failed after just 10 laps, leaving them unable to track Hamilton`s precise position on the circuit. This technical issue contributed to the frustrating outcome of a weekend that initially showed great potential, with Hamilton topping the timesheets in the first practice session and appearing to be a strong contender against the McLarens.
Despite the race disappointment, Hamilton highlighted some positives from the weekend. “I think what`s positive is that in practice I was right there. I was significantly happier with the car`s balance in dry conditions, and we were much stronger in qualifying,” he noted. He added that even from a difficult race, “there are many positives, and you can learn a great deal.” Looking ahead, he stated, “I feel like I now know how to convey to the team exactly what characteristics I want to avoid in next year`s car.” He concluded by emphasizing that the current car`s handling, especially in changeable conditions, “makes it exceptionally challenging to drive.”
Marcus Prine