Seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton enjoyed one of his most encouraging Fridays since joining Scuderia Ferrari, showing competitive pace from the start of the British Grand Prix weekend. After setting the fastest time in the opening Free Practice session at Silverstone, he followed it up with a solid third-place result in the afternoon’s second session. The British driver now senses that this could be the right weekend to strike with a potentially decisive performance.
Silverstone Circuit holds a unique place in the heart of Lewis Hamilton. It is not just his home track, but also the venue where he has etched his name into the record books. With an impressive total of nine career victories at this historic circuit, Hamilton is already the most successful driver at Silverstone. And the way Friday unfolded, there is every reason for him to believe that a tenth triumph—his first with Ferrari—might be within reach.
Of course, there is still a long way to go, with Saturday’s running and the looming threat of rain adding unpredictability to the weekend. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that the British Grand Prix weekend has started in the best possible way for Lewis Hamilton. In fact, this might well have been his strongest Friday since donning the iconic red overalls of the Scuderia, if not his best one so far.
During Free Practice 1, Hamilton quickly found a strong connection with his Ferrari SF-25, and that became evident on the timing sheets. At the end of the first session, it was the British driver who posted the fastest lap, sending a clear message of intent. In the second session (FP2), McLaren’s Lando Norris reclaimed the top spot, but the Ferraris remained firmly in contention. Charles Leclerc secured second place, with Hamilton finishing third and trailing his teammate by just over three tenths of a second.
The overall balance of the day was undoubtedly positive. The British driver commented: “It’s been a really great day. It was incredible to see the crowd and to be on track here at Silverstone in a Ferrari. McLaren and Red Bull have brought some upgrades, but we’re still in the mix and that’s very encouraging.”
As mentioned, Hamilton didn’t take long to settle into a rhythm with the SF-25. Still, he believes there is room for further improvement heading into Saturday. He explained: “I’m making a lot of progress with the car and I feel much more comfortable now. I don’t think we were quite there in FP2, so we struggled a bit more, but we know what changes we need to make for the next session.”
When asked if there is a real possibility of contending for something significant this weekend, Lewis Hamilton hinted at cautious optimism. He said: “I feel like we can dream of having an important weekend. But then executing, putting it all together, and actually getting the result—that’s a whole different story. Still, I’ll be preparing myself as best as I can to make sure I get the best result possible.”
He also pointed out that the weather could play a key role in the rest of the weekend: “I think rain is coming tomorrow, and possibly on Sunday too, so I’ll just try to be at my best and ready for anything.”
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