Lewis Hamilton expressed considerable surprise at Ferrari's sudden competitiveness at Silverstone, admitting the team's own predictions of being six-tenths slower on the straights had “scared” him. Despite previous races showing a significant straight-line deficit, Hamilton found himself fighting at the front during British Grand Prix sprint qualifying. The Briton secured pole position by a mere 0.011 seconds, a result far exceeding expectations.
Ferrari engineers had heavily relied on Hamilton’s feedback leading into the weekend, anticipating a power disadvantage on the predominantly straight Silverstone circuit. However, the actual performance proved significantly better than anticipated, with Hamilton topping the practice session as well. This unexpected pace suggests substantial progress is being made back at the Maranello factory.
Even teammate Charles Leclerc admitted to being "extremely surprised" by Ferrari's strong showing on a track typically sensitive to engine power. While Hamilton is pleased with the car's long-run pace, he remains cautious about potential slipstream effects from rivals like Mercedes and Red Bull during the sprint race. Ferrari's performance leap, however, marks a significant development.
Source: Autosport F1 News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing