Hamilton acknowledges Ferrari’s progress after British Grand Prix sprint loss
Lewis Hamilton has admitted Ferrari still have work to do to match Mercedes after losing out to Andrea Kimi Antonelli in an entertaining British Grand Prix sprint race at Silverstone, reports BritPanorama.
The seven-time Formula One world champion started from pole position and managed to lead during the early laps. However, his aspirations for victory began to dwindle when Antonelli executed a well-timed overtake on lap eight.
The Mercedes teenager effectively utilised his battery deployment, overtaking Hamilton on the Hangar Straight and subsequently building a substantial lead on his way to solidifying his top position in the drivers’ championship.
Following the race, Hamilton settled for second place and conceded that Ferrari’s pace was insufficient to keep up once Antonelli had closed in. “Tough race to keep the Mercedes behind,” Hamilton acknowledged. “I was pushing as hard as I could, I gave it absolutely everything. But well done to Kimi and we’ve got work to do to try and close that gap so we can keep up.”
Throughout the race, Hamilton focused on maintaining a gap of over one second to reduce Antonelli’s chances of slipping into the vital tow, which would hinder his defence. He reflected on the challenging conditions, noting the significant headwind down the back straight that made it difficult to fend off Antonelli.
Despite the disappointment of narrowly missing victory, Hamilton expressed optimism regarding Ferrari’s overall performance throughout the weekend, indicating that the team is making strides. “The car was good today, it’s felt good all weekend,” he remarked. “Relatively decent start, nice and close battle with Kimi.” He further recognised the necessity of finding additional speed to effectively compete with Antonelli and Mercedes in the forthcoming race.
Hamilton is now set to prepare for qualifying ahead of the full race on Sunday, with both he and Ferrari hopeful of uncovering the pace needed to challenge the current leaders over an extended distance.
In a sport where margins are small and rivalry intense, this latest chapter in the Hamilton-Antonelli saga serves as a reminder of how competition defines the essence of Formula One, with each race bringing fresh narratives and challenges to the fore.
