Hamilton Says Ferrari F1 Car Struggles in Wet Race

Photo: AP

Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion, had a very tough race at the 2025 British Grand Prix at Silverstone. After a difficult and frustrating drive, Hamilton finished in fourth place, just missing out on a podium finish. This ended a long streak of top-three finishes at Silverstone for Hamilton, a streak that had continued since 2014.

Even though he scored some points for his Ferrari team, Hamilton admitted after the race that the SF-25—Ferrari’s 2025 Formula 1 car—is the most difficult car he has ever driven in wet conditions. He said the car was extremely hard to handle, especially when the weather changed during the race.

Struggles in the Wet Conditions

The British Grand Prix had mixed weather. It started with damp and wet patches on the track, which made driving very tricky. During such conditions, drivers need their cars to be stable and easy to control. Unfortunately for Hamilton, his Ferrari did not respond well to the changing grip levels on the track.

He explained that the car was “unbelievably tricky” to drive. This wasn’t just a minor complaint—it means the car was constantly difficult to manage. It didn’t give him confidence, especially in the wet parts of the race. According to Hamilton, this was only the second time he had driven this particular car in wet conditions, and it taught him a lot.

He added, “It was the most difficult car I've driven here in these conditions.” That says a lot, considering Hamilton has driven many different Formula 1 cars throughout his long and successful career.

Close Battle but No Podium

Hamilton was actually close to finishing on the podium. In the final part of the race, he was chasing Sauber driver Nico Hulkenberg, who was running in third place. Hamilton managed to catch up and looked like he might overtake Hulkenberg.

However, things started to go wrong after that. Hamilton began to struggle with tire wear. The tires on his car began to lose performance, especially when the team switched from intermediate tires (used in wet conditions) to slick tires (used when the track is dry). This is a critical moment in any race, and it’s where a driver needs full trust in the car.

Hamilton's Ferrari didn’t give him that trust. The switch to slick tires didn’t help as much as expected. Instead of gaining speed, Hamilton started losing time, and he couldn’t keep up with Hulkenberg anymore. He eventually finished five seconds behind, which means he had no chance to challenge for the third-place spot in the final laps.

This fourth-place finish equals his best result so far in a race since joining Ferrari. That might sound good, but for a driver like Hamilton, who is used to winning, it was a frustrating result.

Hamilton's Honest Take on Ferrari's Performance

After the race, Hamilton was very open and honest when speaking to the media. He said it wasn’t the result he had hoped for, but he still got some points for the team.

He described the Ferrari SF-25 as being particularly bad in wet conditions. He said it doesn’t like being driven in the rain, and that makes the race extremely hard. Hamilton admitted that even when the track started drying, the car still didn’t feel much better. He said that there were moments when he went off track because the car reacted in strange and unpredictable ways.

At Turn 11, for example, Hamilton said the car suddenly snapped and spun after he went slightly wide. This kind of snap usually means the car lost grip very suddenly and without warning—something that can happen in cars that are not well balanced or stable.

He admitted to making mistakes but also pointed out that the car didn’t help. In fact, he said the main thing he could take away from the race was how much he learned about the car in those conditions. He plans to sit down with Ferrari’s design team to discuss what went wrong and how they can improve things for the next season.

“Because there are elements of this car that can go into the following year,” Hamilton said, suggesting that what they learn now could help build a better Ferrari for 2026.

Leclerc’s Difficult Day Too

While Hamilton managed to finish fourth, his teammate Charles Leclerc had a much harder time. Leclerc ended the race in 14th place, well outside the points.

Leclerc made a poor decision even before the race began. He came into the pits and changed tires before the race officially started, which turned out to be a bad call. This early stop didn’t help him gain any advantage and instead made things more complicated.

Later in the race, Leclerc struggled even more. Like Hamilton, he found the car difficult to handle when the team changed to slick tires. At one point, he lost control of the car and went off track. This mistake took him out of the top ten and ended any chance of scoring points.

So, while Hamilton had a frustrating but somewhat positive race with a fourth-place finish, Leclerc had a race full of problems and came away with nothing.

Looking Ahead: Lessons for the Future

Despite the disappointment, Hamilton is choosing to look at the positives. He believes the challenges he faced in the British Grand Prix gave him a better understanding of how the Ferrari works in tricky conditions.

This information is very important for the team because it helps them figure out what changes they need to make for the future. Formula 1 teams constantly collect data during races to improve their cars, and feedback from experienced drivers like Hamilton is vital.

Hamilton is already thinking ahead to the 2026 season. He wants to work closely with the engineers and designers at Ferrari to ensure next year’s car is much better—especially in wet conditions, where races can be won or lost based on how well a car handles.

A Challenging Day at Silverstone

The 2025 British Grand Prix was a tough day for Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari. The weather was tricky, and the SF-25 did not perform well in the wet or even in the drying conditions. Hamilton gave it everything but could only manage fourth place, ending his long streak of podium finishes at Silverstone.

He called the car the most difficult he’s ever driven in the wet, which is a strong statement coming from such an experienced driver. Still, he stayed professional and focused on learning from the experience.

Charles Leclerc, meanwhile, had a very tough race filled with mistakes and poor strategy decisions. He finished 14th and will also be looking to bounce back in the next races.

For Ferrari, the race showed some serious issues in how the car handles changing weather. But with Hamilton’s feedback and experience, there’s hope that the team can use this difficult weekend to build a much stronger car for the future.