Lewis Hamilton came into the 2025 British Grand Prix qualifying with a strong opportunity to secure a dream pole position, but ultimately he had to settle for fifth place on the starting grid. In a surprising twist, Max Verstappen emerged as the fastest driver in qualifying after a weekend that saw him struggle during the practice sessions.
Throughout Friday and Saturday practice, Hamilton impressed fans and pundits alike by consistently posting competitive lap times, including setting the pace during the crucial second qualifying segment (Q2). However, in the final qualifying round (Q3), Hamilton managed to improve his time by only a marginal one hundredth of a second. Despite delivering a purple sector one time—indicating the fastest first sector on the lap—he ended up trailing behind Max Verstappen, both McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, and a remarkably strong performance from Mercedes driver George Russell.
While Hamilton succeeded in outqualifying his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, who started sixth on the grid, for the third time in four races this season, that achievement will offer little consolation given the high expectations surrounding the British driver. Nonetheless, Lewis Hamilton cannot be ruled out as a contender for Sunday’s race at Silverstone, as his racecraft and experience remain formidable assets.
To date, Hamilton’s best qualifying position as a Ferrari driver remains fourth place, achieved during the Austrian Grand Prix earlier this season. His sole pole position appearance came during the Sprint Qualifying session in China, marking a rare highlight in a challenging debut year with the Scuderia.
Martin Brundle Suggests Hamilton Pushed Beyond Limits in Final Qualifying Lap at Silverstone
Following the conclusion of qualifying, Sky Sports Formula 1 analyst Martin Brundle offered his expert assessment of Lewis Hamilton’s final lap. Brundle described Hamilton’s approach as unusually ‘scruffy’ and less polished than his typical precise style, especially as he negotiated the final chicane and accelerated onto the Wellington Straight, a section often referred to as the “Hamilton Straight” in honour of the seven-time world champion.
Martin Brundle noted that Hamilton appeared to be pushing extremely hard, possibly to the point of overreaching. Television replays confirmed that Hamilton’s car dipped a wheel onto the outside grass at the final heavy braking zone, indicating he had carried excessive speed into the corner. He could be seen vigorously correcting the car’s trajectory with his steering inputs as he tried to maintain control.
The former Formula 1 driver and commentator explained that Hamilton, at 40 years of age, was chasing an ‘impossible’ sector time, illustrating the high-risk strategy he employed in his final attempt. Brundle also pointed out that Oscar Piastri experienced a brief snap of oversteer at the same corner, whereas Max Verstappen was rewarded for producing the ‘tidiest’ and most controlled lap among the top qualifiers.
Martin Brundle’s detailed analysis highlighted that while many drivers made small errors throughout the lap, Verstappen was the most precise, threading the needle perfectly where others faltered. Hamilton, by contrast, was battling the car slightly more, a sign of the challenges he faced trying to extract the maximum performance from his Ferrari SF-25.
Ferrari Engineer Confirms Brundle’s Assessment on Hamilton’s Qualifying Performance
When Lewis Hamilton sought confirmation of his final qualifying position from Ferrari race engineer Riccardo Adami, he was told that it was ‘only the last corner’ that had cost him the pole position. Reviewing the footage, Hamilton may well agree that his approach in the closing stages of the lap was overly aggressive, and that a more measured run might have yielded a better result.
There was likely an element of desperation in Hamilton’s performance. Securing pole position at Silverstone would have been a narrative-shifting achievement in the midst of a difficult and often disappointing debut season with Ferrari, where podium finishes have been rare.
Mercedes driver George Russell recently commented on Hamilton’s tyre management during practice sessions, and Ferrari appeared to be among the strongest teams during long runs in Friday’s preparation. Starting a place or two higher on the grid could significantly improve Hamilton’s chances of challenging for a strong result during the race.
Historically, Lewis Hamilton has only once won the British Grand Prix starting from outside the top four grid positions. That victory came in 2014, when he fought back from sixth place to claim the win. However, Hamilton benefited from having an exceptionally dominant car that year, combined with the retirement of his then-teammate Nico Rosberg, which cleared the way for his remarkable comeback.
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