Lewis Hamilton revealed what makes his Ferrari car so difficult to drive this season ahead of the 2025 Silverstone Grand Prix.
It’s not been the start to his Ferrari career that the seven-time world champion would have liked. He is still without a podium finish in a Grand Prix despite winning the sprint race in China, and sits sixth in the Drivers’ standings behind his teammate, Charles Leclerc.
Signs improved in his last race in Austria, however, as the Ferraris finished third and fourth behind the two McLarens, and now sit second in the Constructors’ Championship.
| Position | Constructors' Standings | Points |
| 1 | McLaren Racing | 417 |
| 2 | Scuderia Ferrari | 210 |
| 3 | Mercedes-AMG Petronas | 209 |
| 4 | Red Bull Racing | 162 |
It seems like Hamilton is getting to grips with the car more and more each weekend, and he revealed his findings in a recent interview.
Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari has ‘the smallest working window’, admits the seven-time world champion
Hamilton has the record for the most race wins in Formula One, and is statistically the greatest F1 driver ever. In his 17 years in Formula One he has driven countless cars with different characteristics, and knows how to diagnose the issues with his drive.
Hamilton expressed issues with his Ferrari prior to Austria, and speaking with Sky Sports, he explained what makes his current Ferrari car so challenging.
On his first few months with the team, he said, “It hasn’t been great in many ways. It’s been a rollercoaster ride.”
Hamilton continued, “This car has the smallest working window. Charles has been driving it for a long time, and he knows it. He barely makes any changes because it’s already in the window from FP1.
“I’ve been throwing everything at it, and nothing works except for that one setup. The last couple of races, I’ve been migrating more towards that direction, and it seems to be improving. So I’m really hopeful for the second half of the season.”
After Hamilton’s difficulties in Spain, where he finished behind the Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg, Austria was far more promising for the Brit. He qualified fourth, less than a tenth behind Leclerc, and his car looked clearly the second quickest over the course of the weekend.
Now we head to Silverstone, where Hamilton holds countless records and performs better than every driver on the F1 grid.
Lewis Hamilton is a Silverstone specialist
Hamilton’s Silverstone record is exceptional. His nine wins at the British Grand Prix are the most of any driver at a single circuit, and he has stood on the podium 12 straight times. That streak encompasses every race at Silverstone since 2014 – the entire hybrid era.
An emotional Hamilton took the chequered flag first last year for his 104th victory in the sport, and broke the record for the longest time between a driver’s first and last win in the sport, 17 years.
Nigel Mansell famously said that the home crowd at Silverstone are worth a second a lap, and that certainly seems to be true to Hamilton.
He referenced Mansell when talking about the home crowd this weekend, “I’ve been coming here for such a long time, and I’m always asked how much of a difference it makes.”
Speaking to the fans in the grandstand on the Sir Lewis Hamilton straight, he continued, “For me, you guys have lifted me so far beyond any of my capabilities over these years, and it’s really down to the amazing support I’ve had here.
“Even from 2008 when I went through the final chicane at Abbey, and I remember you’d stand up when I made it, and everyone was spinning off. Knowing that you’re there really makes a huge difference.”
Not only would it be a special place for Hamilton to get his first podium with Ferrari, it’s the most likely. His performance at the home of British motorsport means he is always a contender at Silverstone.