Lewis Hamilton has dramatically changed his tune about the performance of current Formula 1 cars at Silverstone, declaring the circuit “still phenomenal” just 24 hours after raising concerns. The seven-time world champion had voiced worries that the power-starved generation of cars would diminish the iconic track’s challenge, but after qualifying on pole for the Sprint race, he admitted his fears were unfounded.
Hamilton’s initial concerns
Speaking in a press conference on Thursday, Hamilton warned that Silverstone might feel like “a completely different circuit” due to the power limitations of the current cars. He highlighted the high-speed sections—Copse, Becketts, and Stowe—as areas where power drop-off could ruin the experience. “The best parts of the track are Copse and Becketts and Stowe, and in those parts the power is just dropping,” he said, citing Ferrari simulations that suggested significant straight-line deficits.
Qualifying turnaround
However, after topping the timesheets in qualifying on Friday, Hamilton was all smiles. “You even heard me in the press conference like, ‘The track is not going to be the same… because that is what we all thought. The track is still phenomenal, the track still feels great. The engine drop-off is nowhere near what we anticipated,” he said. He credited Ferrari colleagues for initially “scaring” him with predictions of being six-tenths off in a straight line, only to find the team competitive in practice and qualifying.
Hamilton described the pace as “an amazing surprise” and noted that Ferrari was “right there competing with” rivals. His teammate Charles Leclerc qualified fourth, though he called his own lap “very poor” over the radio. Leclerc admitted he lacks the consistency of Hamilton, saying, “I don’t have the ease that I had with last year’s car… I’m struggling to just be consistent, to be at my 100 percent.”
Impact on the British GP
Hamilton’s reversal bodes well for the British Grand Prix weekend, with the Sprint race and main event still to come. The Silverstone circuit remains a driver favourite, and Hamilton’s renewed confidence suggests Ferrari could challenge for victory on home soil.
