Hamilton ready for ‘really special’ Silverstone first with Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton returns to his home Grand Prix this weekend, but this time with a twist history has never seen: he’ll be wearing red.

The seven-time world champion heads to Silverstone for the 2025 British Grand Prix in Ferrari’s ‘Racing Red’ SF-25 – move that adds fresh layers of significance – for both team and driver – to one of the most celebrated weekends on the Formula 1 calendar.

The Briton’s bond with Silverstone is immortalised in its very tarmac, with the stretch between Club and Abbey named ‘Hamilton Straight’, a rare and fitting tribute to his influence on the sport. And the connection isn’t just symbolic; it’s kinetic.

“Silverstone has always been more than just a race track for me,” Hamilton said ahead of his homecoming.

“I’ve had some of the most unforgettable highs with the crowd right there behind me, but coming here with Ferrari for the first time is something really special.”

“There are a few sections that really stand out, but Copse into Maggots and Becketts—that’s just something else. It’s so fast and, when you get it right, it feels like you’re flying.

“But what makes Silverstone so special for me is the atmosphere. There’s a reason I’ve stood on the podium so many times there, and that’s the love from the fans.

“From my first win in 2008, to my ninth last year, the crowd is always with me, and no matter where I am on the track, I can feel their energy from inside the cockpit.”

Ferrari Poised to Build on Momentum

Hamilton heads into his home race off the back of a competitive showing in Austria, where Ferrari showed signs of renewed form after introducing upgrades to their SF-25 challenger.

Team principal Fred Vasseur, who will be resume his duties after missing last weekend’s race in Austria following the unfortunate passing of his mother, is optimistic that Silverstone could offer another step forward.

“After Austria, we move on to Silverstone, a very different type of circuit and one of the real classics,” the Frenchman said in the Scuderia’s British Grand Prix preview.

“The upgrades we introduced on the SF-25 in Spielberg certainly played some part in our good result last Sunday, and we want to capitalise on that positive momentum going into this next race.”

• Read also: Wolff strongly defends Vasseur: ‘Ferrari won’t get anybody better’

Vasseur was keen to highlight that performance gains won’t come from technical development alone – but from execution across every level.

“We’ve seen how important it is to focus on every aspect of our operation in order to deliver a strong performance and so, as usual, we will concentrate on ourselves, aiming to put together another clean weekend.”

With the weight of expectation and the roar of the British crowd behind Hamilton, Vasseur knows how much this race means to the man and the moment.

“This is Lewis’ home race and he’ll be particularly keen to do well, buoyed by the amazing support he can always count on here.

“Personally, I’m looking forward to being back at the race track with the team to enjoy the special atmosphere that’s unique to Silverstone.”

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