HAMILTON’S BEST RACE, LECLERC’S WORST VERSION

The Silverstone weekend once again showcased both the limits and potential of Ferrari. Right from the first free practice sessions, the SF-25 had shown promising signs on a track that seemed well-suited to the car’s characteristics. Even in qualifying — despite some imperfections — the signs were there: a podium finish seemed within reach. But on Sunday, with unstable weather and ever-changing conditions, every illusion was wiped away. The race brought back to light all of Ferrari’s mechanical shortcomings, particularly in race pace management and in low-speed sections.

Leclerc had an especially difficult day, making a string of mistakes — both personal and strategic. In contrast, Lewis Hamilton’s weekend — his first home Grand Prix as a Ferrari driver — was arguably his best of the season. From the very start, the Brit looked more focused and sharper than usual, showing a clarity that he maintained all the way to the checkered flag.

His fourth-place finish might seem underwhelming, but it needs to be understood in the right context. Right now, Ferrari isn’t a consistent contender for podiums — except in rare cases like Austria. In this light, expecting top-team results every weekend just isn’t realistic.

Hamilton, understandably disappointed at missing out on a podium in his home race, still delivered an extremely solid performance. His skill was most evident in managing the car’s pace differentials: the SF-25 struggled in slower corners — a weakness visible even to the naked eye — but Lewis made up for it in the high-speed sections, often matching the best on track alongside the McLarens.

True, he didn’t manage to pass Hulkenberg. But credit where it’s due: the German drove an exceptional race. Excluding Norris and Piastri, he and Hamilton were the quickest drivers on track throughout the Grand Prix. The podium slipped away from Lewis due only to two off-track moments at the end, after switching to soft tires in damp conditions. He was pushing hard through the fast corners, and in those conditions, a couple of mistakes are forgivable — especially since, unlike Leclerc, they didn’t cost him anything.

In short, Silverstone brought back a sharp and competitive Hamilton, delivering a performance clearly superior to his teammate. He finished ahead of Leclerc in both qualifying and the race — on a track where Leclerc has often shown strong pace, even if without standout results.

Let’s not forget: just a few races ago, Hamilton was being heavily criticized for his qualifying gaps and for constantly complaining about the car’s balance, while Leclerc was being hailed as “the one who understood the car.” And yet now, the qualifying gap has narrowed, and Hamilton is showing increasing consistency in races.

If this trend continues into the second half of the season, some people will have to start rethinking their narrative. What will be said then? That Ferrari developed the SF-25 based on Hamilton’s feedback? That the British driver’s style influenced the car’s evolution?

Personally, I hope Leclerc manages to finish the championship ahead. Losing the head-to-head against a nearly 40-year-old teammate — who also joined partly for image reasons — would be tough to swallow. But if the performance gap keeps growing in this direction, some serious questions will need to be asked — even by those who’ve always taken for granted who the team’s number one really is.

© Simone Marchetti Cavalieri

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