SILVERSTONE, United Kingdom — Lewis Hamilton has labelled his current Ferrari the “most difficult” car he has ever driven in mixed weather conditions, following a turbulent British Grand Prix that saw him finish in fourth place behind the McLarens and Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg.
The seven-time world champion, who holds the record for most wins at Silverstone with nine victories, struggled to tame his SF-25 in a race filled with unpredictable weather, three safety cars, and constant strategy reshuffles.
The event began on a damp track, transitioned into heavy rain midway, and then dried towards the finish — a nightmare scenario for drivers without a consistently balanced car.
“The car was unbelievably tricky to drive,” Hamilton told reporters after the race. “I think ultimately I learned a lot today. It’s only my second time driving this car in the wet, and I can’t even express how hard it is. It’s not a car that likes those conditions.”
Despite looking strong throughout the weekend’s practice sessions, Hamilton admitted the car’s lack of low-speed turning stability and inconsistent balance made it nearly impossible to extract full performance during the race. He revealed plans to work more closely with Ferrari’s engineers to address these issues in the design of next year’s car.
“There are elements of this car that cannot go into the following year,” he said. “I want a consistent balance, a car that turns at low speed — just a more stable car.”
Hamilton’s fourth-place finish was his third of the season, continuing a podium drought since his much-anticipated move to Ferrari at the beginning of 2025.
Meanwhile, teammate Charles Leclerc endured a dismal race, finishing 14th after an ill-timed decision to switch to slick tyres following the formation lap — a move that cost him valuable track position and confidence.
“We were kind of nowhere the whole race,” Leclerc admitted. “I was a second off the pace and made lots of mistakes. It was incredibly difficult to keep the car on track.”
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur acknowledged that the SF-25 struggled in dirty air, particularly when attempting overtakes, which severely compromised their strategy.
“We spent our lives trying to overtake, sometimes for ten laps,” said Vasseur. “We were clearly faster but couldn’t execute clean moves. It was a difficult weekend overall.”
Hamilton remains optimistic, however, pointing to upcoming upgrades that include aerodynamic improvements and a new floor — introduced in Austria — which could offer more control in similar conditions.
With half the season remaining, Ferrari has work to do to give Hamilton a car capable of fighting at the front in all conditions.