Lewis Hamilton is setting his sights on ending his podium drought at the upcoming British Grand Prix at Silverstone, as he prepares for his first home race with Ferrari. The seven-time world champion, who has a record nine wins at Silverstone, is eager to finally stand on the podium in red in front of his home crowd.
Hamilton's move to Ferrari in 2025 has been highly anticipated, but so far, a podium finish has eluded him. Despite a Sprint victory in China, he hasn't yet achieved a Sunday podium with the Scuderia. His best result since joining the team was fourth place at the Austrian Grand Prix, which has boosted his hopes for a strong showing at Silverstone.
Silverstone holds a special place in Hamilton's heart, and he recognizes the impact of the British fans. He's hoping their support can give him an extra edge. "I am just hoping for a strong weekend. I have not had a podium yet, this would be a really special place in order to have that so I am really counting on the amazing support we have here to hopefully make the difference," Hamilton said. He has been on the podium 11 times in a row at Silverstone.
The unpredictable Silverstone weather could also play a role. Hamilton is aware that rain and wind can shake things up, potentially leveling the playing field. He acknowledged that in dry conditions, McLaren might pull ahead, as seen in previous races. However, he remains optimistic that the weather and the crowd could help Ferrari close the gap.
Ferrari has been working hard to improve their car, and Hamilton is encouraged by the progress. The team introduced upgrades at the Austrian Grand Prix, and they appear to be closing the gap to the front. Team boss Frédéric Vasseur is aiming to maintain the momentum. "The upgrades we brought to Spielberg certainly played a role in our good result last Sunday," Vasseur said.
Hamilton's teammate, Charles Leclerc, secured a podium finish in Austria, further fueling optimism within the team. Leclerc believes that Ferrari is improving step by step and that a win is not far away. "We are quite satisfied, improving step by step," Leclerc said. "Not satisfied yet as [the] end target is to win races, but this race we were competitive at in the past and Lewis has been exceptional here. Been a long time since we last fought for victory, hope this is the one".
Off the track, Hamilton's beloved dog, Roscoe, is set to make his Ferrari debut at Silverstone. Hamilton shared a photo of Roscoe on social media, hinting at his arrival. Leclerc also mentioned that Roscoe and his dog, Leo, would have a playdate.
As Hamilton prepares for his first British Grand Prix with Ferrari, he is determined to put on a strong performance and end his podium drought. With the support of the home crowd and the improvements to the Ferrari car, he believes that Silverstone could be the perfect place to achieve that goal.
