Lewis Hamilton’s fourth-place finish at Silverstone marks the end of an extraordinary era — his 11-year podium streak at the British Grand Prix. While a fourth-place result might seem respectable on paper, it’s a noticeable letdown given his history at his home race and the excitement surrounding his first British GP appearance with Ferrari.
The weekend summed up several of Ferrari’s ongoing challenges: a car that struggles in mixed conditions, an underwhelming pit strategy, and limited adaptability in low-speed corners. Hamilton’s post-race comments underline the issue: he was wrestling with understeer, tyre lockups, and an overall lack of grip when the weather changed. He briefly dropped to 8th and only managed to claw his way back to P4 — a recovery that speaks to his skill, but also to the missed opportunity.
That missed opportunity was amplified by Ferrari’s decision-making on pit stops, which also destroyed Charles Leclerc’s race — falling from P6 on the grid to 14th at the flag. The team’s hesitation or misjudgment in reacting to evolving weather conditions again proved costly, something we've seen repeatedly over the past few seasons.
Hamilton going off-track while trying to catch Nico Hulkenberg was another sign that both driver and car were being pushed to the edge to compensate for deficiencies. Hulkenberg's podium in a Sauber will sting particularly hard — not just because it's a customer Ferrari engine beating the works team, but because it shows what could have been if Ferrari had nailed their strategy and setup.
Still, there were some positives. Hamilton showed flashes of his brilliance despite a difficult car. His attitude post-race was candid but not defeatist — he acknowledged his and the team's shortcomings but was already looking ahead. The next test comes at Spa-Francorchamps, where Ferrari will need to bring updates or strategic sharpness if they want to remain competitive in this tightly contested midfield battle.
For Hamilton and his fans, Silverstone 2025 may not have delivered the fairy-tale podium, but it did highlight one thing: the fire’s still burning — now it’s up to Ferrari to match that intensity.
