Lewis Hamilton: Ferrari Driver ‘Definitely Improving’ as Unique British GP Podium Record on the Line at Silverstone

Lewis Hamilton, Silverstone, and the British Grand Prix are deeply intertwined. No Formula 1 driver has achieved greater success at their home race, nor has any driver been more dominant at a single F1 circuit. Throughout the sport`s history, few have experienced the level of prolonged support and adoration from a home crowd that Hamilton receives.

This weekend, the legendary home of British motorsport welcomes F1 once more, marking the halfway point of the 2025 season – Hamilton`s inaugural year in Ferrari red.

While the two most recent races saw victories for British drivers – Mercedes` George Russell in Canada and McLaren`s Lando Norris in Austria – Ferrari stands as the sole `big four` team yet to secure a Grand Prix win for either of their drivers after 11 rounds. Concurrently, Hamilton is still chasing his first Sunday podium finish with his new team.

Considering his historic ninth victory at Silverstone just last year, a moment marked by some of the most profound emotions of his career, what are the prospects of his home track becoming the backdrop for yet another remarkable achievement?

Hamilton Identifies Area for Improvement After Ferrari`s Gains in Austria

Ferrari arrives at Hamilton`s home race on the back of a morale-boosting performance in Austria, where their SF-25 car debuted an upgraded floor.

While a single upgrade late in the current F1 rules cycle (now in its fourth and final year) is unlikely to dramatically transform a team`s fortunes overnight, the modifications Ferrari introduced beneath their car last week did appear to positively influence performance, a sentiment echoed by both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.

During a weekend where Mercedes struggled in the heat and Red Bull`s Max Verstappen`s podium chances were derailed by external factors, Ferrari consistently performed as the second-fastest team, trailing only championship leaders McLaren. They duly secured third and fourth-place finishes in the race.

Charles Leclerc once again led the charge for the Scuderia, qualifying on the front row before finishing third – his third podium appearance in the last four races and fourth overall in 2025.

Hamilton`s drought for a podium return now extends to a career-worst 13 races, but he noted personal progress with the Ferrari car en route to his fourth-place finish in Austria.

Hamilton`s Results at Ferrari So Far

He qualified just 0.090 seconds adrift of his teammate, earning his first second-row starting position for a Grand Prix this season, and finished in the same spot, matching his best race result from Imola in May.

Interestingly, while Hamilton`s persistent qualifying difficulties over the past season and a half (first at Mercedes and now at Ferrari) have attracted the most attention, the 40-year-old stated after leaving Austria that his race pace was actually the primary area he needed to focus on improving, having finished nine seconds behind Leclerc at the conclusion of Sunday`s 70-lap race.

“I`ll just keep working at it,” Hamilton commented on his form after the race.

“I feel like I made progress this weekend.”

“I was less than a tenth off Charles in qualifying, and we found a problem through qualifying with the brakes, where I lost a tenth, so that`s positive.”

“I`ve just got to find some pace for the race, but definitely improving.”

Can Hamilton Extend His Unique Silverstone Podium Streak?

So, first and foremost, what are the chances of Ferrari being genuine podium contenders again around the high-speed curves of Silverstone?

McLaren`s competitiveness appears unquestionable on most tracks, and they will again start as strong favorites. Ferrari can also anticipate increased competition from their other two main front-running rivals compared to Austria.

Mercedes, who secured pole position at Silverstone with Russell and a victory with Hamilton last year, should welcome the predicted end of the UK heatwave, with a possibility of showers over the weekend. Meanwhile, Red Bull`s best form this season has been on circuits featuring fast corners.

Despite these factors, Ferrari will hope that the pace improvement shown in the last event provides a solid foundation to build upon, ahead of further car upgrades expected before F1`s summer break next month.

Furthermore, there is the undeniable `Hamilton factor` to consider.

If any doubt remained about the seven-time champion`s knack for finding something exceptional for his annual Silverstone appearance – even during more challenging seasons – his performance in 2024 surely put those doubts to rest.

Hamilton arrived at last July`s British GP having gone 56 races since December 2021 without a victory and with only one podium finish in the preceding 14 races. Yet, he delivered a masterclass drive in mixed wet-dry conditions to secure a race win that ranks among the absolute best of his career.

This victory was not only a record-extending ninth win at the British GP – making him the first driver to win the same race this many times – but also held particular emotional significance.

Speaking afterwards, Hamilton confessed: “There`s definitely been moments where, you know, the thought that this was it, that that was never going to happen again. So to have this feeling come across the line, I think, honestly, I`ve never cried coming from a win. It just came out of me.”

“And it`s a really, really great feeling. I`m very, very grateful for it.”

The win allowed the Briton to emphatically extend another impressive Silverstone record: a streak of podium finishes dating back to 2014.

Hamilton at the British GP: The Last 11 Years

In a truly unique achievement for any Grand Prix, Hamilton has finished on the podium in the last 11 British GPs. This streak extends to 12 consecutive podiums at Silverstone when including the second race held at the venue (the 70th Anniversary GP) during the Covid-affected 2020 season.

Underscoring his remarkable home record, only 35 drivers in the sport`s entire history have won more races anywhere combined throughout their careers on the calendar than Hamilton has won solely at Silverstone.

“We are coming to Silverstone which is a Lewis Hamilton track,” commented Karun Chandhok.

“Wouldn`t the crowd go absolutely mad if he won there?”