Category: Lewis hamilton news

 

Lewis Hamilton has revealed the steps he is taking to ensure Ferrari are able to challenge for titles in the near future; watch every session of the Belgian GP, starting with Practice at 11.30am and Sprint Qualifying at 3.30pm on Friday – live on Sky Sports F1

 

Lewis Hamilton reveals ‘the big, big push’ he is undertaking to help Ferrari ‘get better’

Lewis Hamilton says he is making a “big push” for change at Ferrari because he “refuses” to become the latest star driver to fail to win a world championship with the team.

 

Hamilton has endured a largely disappointing debut campaign with the Italian team, failing to score a grand prix podium across his first 12 races in red, with the SF-25 failing to live up to pre-season expectations of being a title-challenging car.

 

However, the seven-time world champion remains adamant that he can make a success of his blockbuster switch from Mercedes, and revealed ahead of this weekend’s Belgian Grand Prix – live on Sky Sports – that he has been submitting documents and holding meetings with key figures at the team’s Maranello factory over the past two weeks.

 

Hamilton said on Thursday: “I was at the factory a couple of days in each week. Naturally, you’re going over where we were at the previous race, things we need to change.

 

“I held a lot of meetings. I’ve called lots of meetings with the heads of the team, so I’ve sat with (chairman) John (Elkann), (chief executive) Benedetto (Vigna), (team principal) Fred (Vasseur). And several meetings I’ve sat with the head of our car development, with Loic (Serra), with also the heads of different departments – talking about the engine for next year, suspension for next year – things that you want, issues that I have with this car.

 

Kimi contract

Lewis Hamilton offers to help Kimi Antonelli with his Mercedes contract negotiations!

“I’ve sent documents through the year. After the first few races, I did a full document for the team. Then, during this break, I had another two documents that I sent in. So, then I come in and want to address those.

 

“Some of it is structural adjustments that we need to make as a team in order to get better in all the areas that we want to improve, and then the other one was really about the current issues that I have with this year’s car. Some things that you do want to take on to next year’s car, and some that you need to work on changing for next year.

 

“I tried the 2026 car for the first time and started working on that. The engineers come to the room and sit and debrief with every single one of them, so a big, big push.”

 

‘I’m going the extra mile!’

Ferrari’s last silverware came in the form of the 2008 Constructors’ Championship, while their most recent triumph in the Drivers’ Championship was delivered a year earlier by Kimi Raikkonen.

 

Since then, both Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel both failed to add the world championships they had won elsewhere during stints with Ferrari, while Raikkonen also missed out in his second stint with the team.

 

Hamilton’s team-mate Charles Leclerc is driving his seventh season for the team, and has failed to mount a sustained championship challenge.

 

Asked if he could provide any more information on the documents he had been submitting, Hamilton explained his desire to claim a record eighth drivers’ title during the latter stages of his career.

 

Watch new onboard of Lewis Hamilton as he made a double overtake on George Russell and Esteban Ocon in wet conditions at the British Grand Prix.

Watch new onboard footage of Lewis Hamilton as he made a double overtake on George Russell and Esteban Ocon in wet conditions at the British Grand Prix

The 40-year-old said: “The reason for it is that I see a huge amount of potential within this team. The passion, nothing comes close to that. It’s a huge organisation with a lot of moving parts, and not all of them are firing on all the cylinders they need to be. That’s ultimately why the team’s not had the success that I think it deserves.

 

“I feel that it’s my job to challenge absolutely every area, to challenge everybody in the team, particularly the guys that are at the top making the decisions.

 

“If you look at the team over the last 20 years, they’ve had amazing drivers – you’ve had Kimi, you’ve had Fernando, you’ve had Sebastian – all world champions; however, they didn’t win a world championship. For me, I refuse for that to be the case with me.

 

“So, I’m going the extra mile. I’ve obviously been very fortunate to have had experiences in two other great teams. Whilst things are for sure going to be different, because there’s a different culture and everything, I think sometimes if you take the same path all the time, you get the same result.

 

“I’m just challenging certain things. They’ve been incredibly responsive. We’ve been improving in so many areas, through marketing, through everything we’re continuously delivering for sponsors, the way the engineers continue to work. There’s lots of work and improvements to be made, but very responsive.

 

“I guess ultimately, I’m just trying to really create allies within the organisation and get them geed up, get them pushing for… I’m here to win, and I don’t have as much time as this one (Mercedes’ 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli) here.

 

“So, it’s crunch time. For me, I truly believe in the potential of this team. I really believe they can win multiple world championships moving forwards. They already have an amazing legacy, but during my time, that’s my sole goal.”

 

Sky Sports F1’s live Belgian GP schedule

Look back at some of the most dramatic moments throughout the years at the Belgian Grand Prix.

Look back at some of the most dramatic moments throughout the years at the Belgian Grand Prix

Friday July 25

7.55am: F3 Practice

9.05am: F2 Practice

11am: Belgian GP Practice One (session starts at 11.30am)

12.55pm: F3 Qualifying

1.50pm: F2 Qualifying

3pm: Belgian GP Sprint Qualifying (session starts at 3.30pm)

 

Saturday July 26

8.10am: F3 Sprint

10am: Belgian GP Sprint (lights out at 11am)

12.20pm: Ted’s Sprint Notebook

12.40pm: F2 Sprint

2pm: Belgian GP Qualifying (session starts at 3pm)

5pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook

 

Sunday July 27

7.25am: F3 Feature Race

8.55am: F2 Feature Race

10.40am: Porsche Supercup Race

12.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Belgian GP build-up*

 

4pm: Chequered flag: Belgian GP reaction*

5pm: Ted’s Notebook

 

*also live on Sky Sports Main Event

 

The 2025 Formula 1 season resumes this weekend with the Belgian Grand Prix as the Sprint format returns, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime.

 

On the left, Lewis Hamilton, and on the right, Carlos Sainz, with a Mercedes badge between them

Carlos Sainz held “talks” with Mercedes but did not come very close to replacing Lewis Hamilton

 

Carlos Sainz revealed that there were “a lot” of talks with Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff about joining for F1 2025.

 

However, the Spaniard admits that he never came close to having a contract in his hand, as Mercedes searched for their Lewis Hamilton replacement.

 

Carlos Sainz was not close to being a Mercedes driver

Additional reporting by Thomas Maher

 

Hamilton sparked last year’s ‘silly season’ into a very early frenzy by announcing that he would leave Mercedes after that campaign to join Ferrari, at the expense of Sainz.

 

It meant Sainz drove the entire 2024 season knowing it was his final with Ferrari, and after being linked with teams up and down the grid, including Red Bull and Mercedes, Sainz ultimately agreed a multi-year deal with Williams.

 

During an appearance on the High Performance Podcast, Sainz was asked if he came close to agreeing a deal with Mercedes as Hamilton’s replacement.

 

Mercedes were linked with a move for Red Bull’s Max Verstappen at the time, Wolff admitting he would “love” to the sign the Dutchman, who secured a fourth straight Drivers’ title in 2024.

 

But, with that pursuit reaching a dead end, Mercedes opted to promote their teenage academy sensation Kimi Antonelli from Formula 2 to take Hamilton’s place.

 

“We spoke a lot with Toto and everyone else at the time and I was certainly one of the options that was considered,” Sainz continued.

 

“But how close was I? You can ask Toto that.

 

“But I think he is very happy with Kimi Antonelli.”

 

Antonelli’s long-term Mercedes future is uncertain, however, with Wolff once more facing key decisions over his driver line-up.

 

Neither Antonelli nor George Russell are contracted beyond F1 2025, with Verstappen a potential target once more as his hopes of a fifth title in a row dwindle.

 

Verstappen sits P3 in the Drivers’ standings, 69 points behind leader Oscar Piastri, as the existence of a performance-related exit clause in his Red Bull contract continues to fuel speculation over a move to Mercedes.

 

It is believed that if Verstappen is outside of the top four in the Championship after Hungary, then he would be able to trigger the clause, leaving the Belgian and Hungarian rounds to go until that critical point arrives.

 

But the odds are in Red Bull’s favour based on that information, as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in fifth is 46 points behind Verstappen.

 

Wolff does not want to let the situation drag on for too much longer, his drivers waiting for a resolution on their F1 future.

 

“You need to be respectable towards the stakeholders in all of that process,” Wolff told the media, including PlanetF1.com, about determining Mercedes’ F1 2026 line-up.

 

“The organisation, the drivers, everybody, you need to understand the way forward.

 

“And I don’t want to be sadistic in letting a driver wait, not taking any decisions when it should be taken.

 

“Obviously, there’s lots of discussions around, and I’ve been open with it and transparent and at a certain stage, in the next couple of months – until the summer break, we need to know. Until the summer break, everything is going to be done.”

 

There is great intrigue surrounding Mercedes with new chassis and engine regulations on the way for F1 2026. The last time that Formula 1 introduced new engines in 2014, Mercedes went on a run of eighth Constructors’ title wins in a row.

 

 

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Lewis Hamilton and Roscoe composite

 

Lewis Hamilton and his pet dog Roscoe were finally reunited at the British Grand Prix last weekend, where the much loved poo bulldog made his F1 debut with Ferrari.

 

Fans also caught a glimpse of Roscoe in the flesh as he appeared on the main stage with Hamilton in the fan zone, greeted by the cheers and whoops of his adoring public.

 

However, Roscoe was unable to hear any of the adoration as Hamilton issued an update about his dog’s health.

 

“He’s [Roscoe] also lost his hearing so he can’t even hear you guys,” he informed the crowd, who commiserated with the champion alongside the stage host, Ariana Bravo.

 

How old is Roscoe Hamilton?

 

Roscoe Hamilton is 12-years-old, with his birthday confirmed via his @roscoelovescoco Instagram account on October 24, which means Hamilton’s beloved pooch will turn 13 later this year.

 

The seven-time world champion usually hosts a birthday party for Roscoe every year, and was pictured in 2022 surrounded by his canine pals in a variety of party hats, completed with balloons and a cake.

 

It was recently revealed that Roscoe had been suffering from pneumonia, but thankfully was well enough to attend Hamilton’s home race after his trainer Kirstin McMillan shared a video of him happily playing.

 

At the British GP, Roscoe was also pictured cosying up to Hamilton on the sofa, whilst also enjoying a drink (of water!) with Charles Leclerc’s dog Leo.

 

The pair reunited after their first meet-up last year, finally getting to enjoy each other’s company in Ferrari red.

 

Max Verstappen has been linked with a move from Red Bull to Mercedes; Lewis Hamilton says he would have no “problem” with his once fierce rival joining his former squad following his own switch to Ferrari

 

 

 

Verstappen passes Hamilton to win championship!

Max Verstappen controversially beat Lewis Hamilton to the 2021 F1 Championship.

Lewis Hamilton says he would recommend Mercedes to Max Verstappen and that he would have no “problem” with his once fierce rival joining his former squad.

 

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has, at least intermittently, been trying to sign Verstappen from Red Bull since it was confirmed in February 2024 that Hamilton was leaving the Silver Arrows to join Ferrari for this year.

 

Wolff failed with his attempts to land Verstappen for 2025 but there has been renewed speculation over recent weeks that the Dutchman, who has won the last four world championships, could join Mercedes in 2026.

 

Verstappen controversially beat Hamilton to the 2021 drivers’ title as highly questionable officiating of the decisive season finale in Abu Dhabi left the Brit questioning his future in the sport.

 

Max Verstappen to Mercedes talks.

Sky Sports reporter Craig Slater explains everything you need to know about Mercedes’ interest in world champion Max Verstappen.

Asked at the British Grand Prix about the prospect of Verstappen joining Mercedes, Hamilton said: “Max didn’t do anything. He did what he needed to do in terms of winning, so I don’t think it would be a problem.”

 

The seven-time world champion said he would recommend his former team to Verstappen, but also took the opportunity to praise Red Bull.

 

Hamilton said: “Of course (I would recommend Mercedes).

 

“He’s coming from a great team. Many, many years ago I was being asked something about… I think I was just so diehard Mercedes at the time, and I remember saying something about Red Bull being only a drinks company.

 

Martin on verstappen

Amid fresh rumours from Sky Italy that Max Verstappen is in talks with Mercedes, Sky Sports’ Martin Brundle gives his opinion on the possible move.

“And I’ve always regretted it because I was just saying that Mercedes at the time were great, I was really just trying to gee up my team.

 

“But the truth is, Red Bull have been an incredible team. There are so many people there who are exceptional. They’ve dominated for years.

 

“But what I can say is, if anyone was going to ask me about Mercedes, it’s an amazing team also with naturally the passion, they’ve got great personnel, it’s a great factory, a great environment to work in.

 

“So, of course I would (recommend it). I’m interested to see what happens.”

 

‘Max will be focused on the engine’

A key factor in Verstappen potentially joining Mercedes would be the expectation in the paddock that they are likely to produce the best engine under vastly different new regulations being introduced for 2026.

 

His Red Bull squad will be producing their own engine for the first time in 2026, with rumours suggesting they are behind the likes of Mercedes in terms of development.

 

Max Verstappen responds to the increased speculation about his possible move to Mercedes.

Max Verstappen responds to the increased speculation about a possible move to Mercedes.

Asked what would dictate Verstappen’s decision if he were to move, Hamilton said: “He will be looking at the engine.

 

“Mercedes will build an amazing engine next year because that’s what they are particularly strong at building. That would be the biggest part for sure.”

 

On whether the prospect of Verstappen in a 2026 Mercedes was ‘scary’, Hamilton added: “Max in any car is a strong opponent. I don’t really think too much about it.”

 

F1 takes a brief break before the season resumes at the Belgian Grand Prix as the Sprint format returns, live on Sky Sports F1 on July 25-27. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime.

 

Lewis Hamilton is going in search of a record-extending 10th win at Silverstone.

 

Lewis Hamilton has credited “the love from the fans” to help him towards his record-breaking success at the British Grand Prix.

 

The Ferrari driver took a record ninth victory at his home race last season, though he is still searching for his first win with his new team.

 

Lewis Hamilton: Silverstone ‘more than just a race track’

Additional reporting by Thomas Maher

 

Hamilton heads into his home race off the back of a fourth-place finish last time out in Austria, one place behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.

 

While the seven-time World Champion’s move to Maranello was confirmed before last year’s British Grand Prix, he was able to score one more victory at home for Mercedes in 2024, in an emotional moment as he returned to the top step of the podium.

 

With the achievements he has managed around Silverstone over the years, he admitted the race brings with it memories of “unforgettable highs” in his career.

 

“Yeah, absolutely,” Hamilton replied to media including PlanetF1.com when asked if he was looking forward to his home race for the first time with the Scuderia.

 

“Still loving being at Ferrari and [looking forward to] going and seeing the British flag with some red caps there.”

 

Having taken more victories around Silverstone than any other driver, his ninth win there coming in dramatic fashion in 2024, Hamilton knows more than most about what it takes to succeed at the British circuit.

 

He attributes that success not just to the machinery he has driven, but the support he has received from his home crowd.

 

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

 

“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.

 

“I have so much history with this track, and for Ferrari to now be part of that story means a lot to me. I’m proud to wear red here, and I can’t wait to experience that incredible home crowd energy again.

 

“There are a few sections that really stand out, but Copse into Maggotts 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 here, 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.”

 

Lewis Hamilton is still waiting for a first Ferrari podium but was “very proud” of the team’s efforts as he finished fourth at the Austrian Grand Prix; watch the British Grand Prix this week with Sunday’s race at 3pm, live on Sky Sports and Sky Showcase

 

 

 

Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari made 'mega progress' this weekend, which saw the team secure a third and fourth place finish.

Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari made ‘mega progress’ this weekend, which saw the team secure a third and fourth place finish at the Austrian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton believes Ferrari have made “mega progress” after he matched his best result of the 2025 Formula 1 season with fourth at the Austrian Grand Prix.

 

Hamilton described Ferrari’s operations as “world-class” when he qualified a season’s best fourth and was still upbeat about his race performance, despite finishing 10 seconds behind team-mate Charles Leclerc, who scored his fourth podium this season.

 

Ferrari brought a new floor to Austria in a bid to get closer to the front and only McLaren outpaced them in Sunday’s race, as Mercedes’ George Russell finished over half a minute behind Hamilton.

 

“Mega progress for us as a team, so we have to say a huge thank you again to the guys at the factory for bringing the upgrade this weekend,” Hamilton told Sky Sports F1.

 

“It didn’t seem much on paper. It was really a small step, but perhaps it had a bigger influence on our performance.

 

“For us to be the second fastest team this weekend, we’re not a minute down from McLaren, which is positive. To bag some really strong points, I’m definitely happy with it.”

 

Sky Sports F1 speak to Bernie Ecclestone over the future of Max Verstappen, Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton.

Bernie Ecclestone believes Lewis Hamilton won’t win a record-breaking eighth F1 title

Hamilton will be confident heading into his home event at the British Grand Prix this week, where he has won at a record nine times.

 

The seven-time world champion says he’s “really proud” of Ferrari’s efforts at the Red Bull Ring.

 

“I think everyone in the team will be happier. I think definitely the guys back at the factory can be proud of the work they’ve done,” he said.

 

“Everyone here has definitely been a lot calmer and more methodical this weekend, definitely a better output from the team.”

 

Lewis Hamilton was upbeat after a 'fantastic' qualifying performance, which saw the Ferrari driver take fourth for the race on Sunday.

Lewis Hamilton was upbeat after his best Saturday qualifying of the year

Leclerc: Ferrari working in right direction

Ferrari have been unable to run their car low to the ground due to an issue with the rear suspension this year, which has cost them performance.

 

Both Leclerc and Hamilton were disqualified at the Chinese Grand Prix, so the team have been working to design the car in a way where they can run the car low, without overwearing the plank.

 

Leclerc has stood on the podium three times from the last four events, which underlines Ferrari’s progress, albeit they are still a long way off McLaren.

 

final lap austrian gp

McLaren’s Lando Norris fought team-mate Oscar Piastri to take the win at the Austrian GP after a race-long battle

“We are working in the right direction. I think we’ve brought some upgrades this weekend which helped us to close the gap a little bit,” Leclerc told Sky Sports F1.

 

“The gap is still significant unfortunately and we’ve got to push in order to bring as many upgrades as possible as soon as possible in order to close that gap.

 

“But it’s been a positive weekend overall, I think. I’m happy that we’ve maximised our potential, now we’ve got to have a better potential.”

 

Highlights from an enthralling Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring.

Highlights from an enthralling Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring

Ferrari will look to replicate last year when they made major progress with their car development as the season went on and finished just 14 points behind champions McLaren in the Constructors’ Championship.

 

Leclerc and Hamilton have not had a realistic chance of winning a Grand Prix in 2025, which the Monegasque driver hopes will happen.

 

“Just for the people back in Maranello, for the people at the track, for us drivers as well, to know that we can turn the situation around and be competitive again, it’s very important for everyone. It would be really nice [to win],” he said.

 

“However, by the season end, I think it’s going to be very unlikely to turn the situation around to a point where we can win the Constructors’ Championship because the points difference is very significant and I don’t see why McLaren will start doing a really bad job from now on.

 

“We need to keep our head down, keep working very hard, and whatever we can still learn this season, we need to learn it.”

 

Next up in the 2025 Formula 1 season is the big one, the British Grand Prix at Silverstone – live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Showcase with coverage from Thursday to Sunday’s race at 3pm. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime.

 

Lewis Hamilton smiling with an inset of Max Verstappen looking unimpressed

Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen: the best of enemies

 

Lewis Hamilton has quipped that he “won’t be bumping into anybody” at the start of the Austrian Grand Prix as Max Verstappen “isn’t up there” at the front.

 

It comes just weeks after Verstappen, the Red Bull driver and reigning four-time World Champion, was involved in an ugly collision with George Russell’s Mercedes in Spain.

 

Lewis Hamilton makes Max Verstappen quip ahead of Austrian Grand Prix

Additional reporting by Thomas Maher

 

Hamilton enjoyed one of his strongest qualifying sessions so far with Ferrari on Saturday in Austria to secure fourth on the grid, putting himself within a tenth of team-mate Charles Leclerc, who will start second.

 

The seven-time World Champion’s result came on the weekend Ferrari introduced a new floor to the SF-25 car with the hope of getting its disappointing campaign back on track.

 

Verstappen, a five-time winner at the Red Bull Ring, was left stranded in seventh after yellow flags for Pierre Gasly’s spinning Alpine compromised his final Q3 lap.

 

The Red Bull driver remains on the brink of a one-race ban after making contact with Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix, where he appeared to deliberately make contact with the Mercedes, earlier this month.

 

Two penalty points are set to be wiped from Verstappen’s tally on Monday, when his clash with McLaren driver Lando Norris in last year’s Austrian Grand Prix falls out of his 12-month window.

 

Speaking to media including PlanetF1.com after qualifying in Austria, Hamilton could not resist making a quip at Verstappen’s expense as he looked ahead to the start.

 

Put to him that the Austrian GP tends to be a race in which “people bump into each other” fighting over the lead, Hamilton joked: “Max isn’t up there, so…

 

“I won’t be bumping into anybody, that’s for sure.”

 

Hamilton’s comment comes after Russell quipped that he would use Verstappen’s disciplinary situation to his advantage after qualifying in Canada – a comment Christian Horner, the Red Bull team principal, took issue with.

 

Hamilton’s fine qualifying result came after he struggled in Friday practice at the Red Bull Ring, telling his Ferrari race engineer Riccardo Adami over team radio at one stage during FP2: “For some reason I’ve just got no pace, mate.”

 

The 40-year-old revealed that the team’s changes overnight were key to his turnaround, describing Austria as his most efficient qualifying session since he joined Ferrari.

 

He said: “Definitely made some progress overnight.

 

“I was much happier with car in P3 and the direction we went, I think, has been really positive.

 

“I think edging closer in terms of performance to Charles, who’s really, really used to the Ferrari. He hardly ever changes it.

 

“So I think that’s real positive. I think also I had more time in the lap.

 

“I was nearly three tenths up going into Turn 6 and I had a massive snap going in and then I came across the line 0.6s up, so that would have put me second.

 

“So there’s positives in it, for sure, and I think operationally the team did a really great job today.

 

“It’s the best qualifying process operationally that we’ve done, I think.”

 

Pressed on the impact of Ferrari’s revised floor, he added: “It definitely helped to extract more from the floors this weekend.

 

“It was a really small step.

 

“There’s degradation in the floors, so a new floor is always a little bit better. And then on top of that, the step of improvement in performance.

 

“So I’m really thankful to the team for back at the factory for the work they’ve put in to make it.”

 

Under-pressure Ferrari produce best qualifying result of the season with Charles Leclerc on front row and Lewis Hamilton fourth; watch the Austrian Grand Prix on Sunday at 2pm with build-up from 12.30pm, live on Sky Sports F1 and Main Event

 

 

 

Lewis Hamilton was upbeat after a 'fantastic' qualifying performance, which saw the Ferrari driver take fourth for the race on Sunday.

Lewis Hamilton was upbeat after a ‘fantastic’ qualifying performance, which saw the Ferrari driver take fourth for the race on Sunday

Lewis Hamilton hailed Ferrari’s “world-class” execution of Austrian Grand Prix qualifying as they achieved the best grid positions of their disappointing season so far.

 

Charles Leclerc unexpectedly split the dominant McLarens to take second on the grid and equal Ferrari’s best Grand Prix qualifying result of the season, while Hamilton made it onto the second row in fourth for the first time at the Scuderia.

 

Ferrari have introduced a new floor onto their underperforming SF-25 car for this weekend and Hamilton, who qualified within a tenth of a second of both Leclerc and third-placed Oscar Piastri, told Sky Sports F1: “It’s a fantastic result. The team have worked really hard back at the factory to bring us a new floor this weekend.

 

“Considering yesterday we were a lot further off, for us to be much closer and on the second row is really fantastic. And for Charles on the front row too.

 

“My last lap wasn’t perfect. I think if I’d finished it, I would have been second, so there are lots of positives to take out from that session.

 

“Also, I think it’s been the best day operationally, particularly through qualifying. Just timings, the information we’re getting in terms of traffic and positioning on track, I think was really the best and proper world-class, so that’s what we’ve been working towards.”

 

Highlights from qualifying at the Austrian Grand Prix.

Highlights from qualifying at the Austrian Grand Prix

Ferrari – and team principal Frederic Vasseur in particular – have come in for pressure in the Italian media in recent weeks, approaching the halfway mark of a season in which the Scuderia’s pre-season title ambitions have emphatically fallen flat.

 

Given that external pressure on F1’s biggest and most-famous team, Hamilton said: “Ultimately we continue to pull together and protect each other and block out all the noise, and just keep our heads down.

 

“It’s an incredible team. I’m working with Fred, we’re working to put all the pieces of the puzzle in the right place, but step by step. It can’t be done in one go.

 

“We’ve just got to keep working on it, but I’m really happy with the progress we are making.”

 

‘I’m just going to stay quiet’ – Can Hamilton finally end podium wait?

Although he won the Sprint race on his second appearance for Ferrari at March’s Chinese GP, and then took third at the season’s second short-form Saturday race in Miami in May, Hamilton’s last official podium finish in F1 came last November when still a Mercedes driver at the Las Vegas GP.

 

The seven-time world champion is on a run of 12 races without a top-three finish, just one fewer than the worst sequence of his illustrious 18-year F1 career.

 

“Every race, I’ve been saying I can’t wait to get that first podium, so I’m not going to say that today!” said Hamilton.

 

“I’m just going to stay quiet and try to do a better job tomorrow.”

 

Max Verstappen was left frustrated after only qualifying seventh for Sunday's race, while Anthony Davidson was at the SkyPad to see whether a yellow flag ruined his hopes of getting pole position.

Max Verstappen was left frustrated after only qualifying seventh for Sunday’s race, while Anthony Davidson was at the SkyPad to see whether a yellow flag ruined his hopes of getting pole position

Leclerc to make ‘McLaren’s life as tough as possible’

Ferrari’s cause was certainly helped by the fact that both Piastri and Verstappen were scuppered on their respective final laps of qualifying by yellow flags at the final corner when Alpine’s Pierre Gasly spun. Leclerc’s gap to polesitter Lando Norris was also just over half a second.

 

Still, outperforming Canadian GP victors Mercedes and challenging Red Bull’s Verstappen to be McLaren’s closest challengers all weekend, Leclerc took the clear positives from the upgraded car’s performance.

 

“The upgrades definitely helped us,” he said. “How much? It’s difficult to know, especially when you see how fine the margins are – apart from Lando – but it definitely helped us to get the front row, so for that we should be proud of the work done.

 

George Russell almost caused an accident in the pit lane after an unsafe release from Mercedes during qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix.

George Russell almost caused an accident in the pit lane during qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix after being released into the path of the Ferraris

“Apart from that, I think we did a great job. We worked very well this weekend and I’m looking forward to tomorrow because most of the time our race car is better than our qualifying car.

 

Asked if he could challenge for the victory, Leclerc replied: “I will give it all. We will see, I don’t have the answers for now.

 

“The gap is very big today but tomorrow with tyre management, I think that we have a good car on that. Whether it will be as good as McLaren, I don’t know, but I will do absolutely everything to make McLaren’s life as tough as possible.”

 

Sky Sports F1’s Austrian GP schedule

Sunday June 29

7.25am: F3 Feature Race

8.55am: F2 Feature Race

10.40am: Porsche Supercup

12.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Austrian GP build-up*

2pm:

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*also on Sky Sports Main Event

 

Next up for the 2025 Formula 1 season is a return to Europe for the Austrian Grand Prix, which is live on Sky Sports F1 this weekend. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime.

 

 

Toto Wolff has weighed in on Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari struggles

 

Driving style, mojo and nationality could all be playing a role in Lewis Hamilton’s slow start to life as a Ferrari driver according to his former Mercedes F1 team boss Toto Wolff.

 

Hamilton’s move to Ferrari after 12 seasons and six World titles with Mercedes was expected to rejuvenate both the driver and the team as they chased championship glory.

 

Toto Wolff weighs in on Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari struggles

Seven-time World Champion Hamilton won his most recent World Championship in 2020, while Ferrari’s barren run stretches back to 2008 with Kimi Raikkonen having won the title the year before.

 

But the hype of Formula 1’s most successful driver joining the sport’s longest-serving team has waned.

 

Although Hamilton has a Sprint pole and victory, the Briton is still chasing his first podium in red, never mind race wins or the title.

 

After 10 races, he is P6 in the standings, 119 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri.

 

It begs the question: what’s going on with Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari?

 

That was put to the 40-year-old’s former team principal at Mercedes, Wolff, in the recent Bloomberg Hot Pursuit podcast.

 

The Austrian believes there are probably three factors in play: a new car, a completely different environment having only ever raced for British teams in F1, and Hamilton is still finding his feet.

 

“You don’t unlearn driving that quickly,” said Wolff. “In 2021, he was great. Then the regulations changed, and it got a little more difficult, but he was still performing at a very high level.

 

“Just by changing teams, suddenly you don’t lose your skills.

 

“Everybody needs a period of adaptation: different car, different DNA in how the vehicle drives, a new engineering team that you need to start working together.

 

“Then you have to be involved in the continuous development of the car so it suits your driving style.

 

“It’s an all-Italian team, and he’s a British guy parachuted in there. And that takes time.

 

“Also, we’ve seen a bit of a pattern that Lewis, at the beginning of the season, needs to find his mojo and the second half of the season has always been very strong.

 

“So don’t ever write Lewis Hamilton off.”

 

Hamilton has been notably frustrated in recent weeks as he has made repeated calls for the SF-25 to be upgraded.

 

“We’re really in need of an upgrade and there’s a lot of things that need to change for us to compete at the front,” he reiterated in Canada.

 

“I think we have something coming hopefully next week, but I don’t know if it’s much, I don’t know how much it is, I don’t think it’s going to be a lot.

 

“So it’s just one of those years.”

 

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has confirmed that an upgrade is coming, it could even be on the car at the next race in Austria.

 

“We will have an upgrade soon, before the UK. And, perhaps, another one a bit later,” Vasseur said. “But, honestly, today, I think there is much more in the execution and what you are getting from the car than in the potential of the car itself.”

 

 

 

 

 

Lewis Hamilton was on his usual form as he stepped onto the red carpet of the F1 movie world premiere last night as he stood in front of cameras wearing a Dior outfit. He attended the event as a producer of the movie, but as expected, brought his usual flare to the evening.

 

Wearing a Bar Peak Lapel jacket coloured in a light pink, tailored tightly around his waist, he paired it with a floral broach – a piece that was – interestingly – shaped like a goat, as pointed out by social media. Black trousers sat beneath the jacket and black Dior shoes with bows finished the look. The whole outfit was directly from the Dior Men Fall line of this year.

 

The seven-time world champion has been an ambassador of Dior since 2024. In fact, he was personally chosen by the creative director at Dior Menswear, Kim Jones.

 

Jones said the following in a statement released at the time.

 

“We share a love of nature, a desire to celebrate Africa and an interest in the artisanal process and techniques that unite craftspeople in Africa with the savoir-faire of the Dior ateliers.

 

“Added to that, this collection also reflects Lewis’ sporting side, his virtuosity and our functionality. All in all, the way things came together happened very organically and enjoyably.”

 

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

 

Photo by: James Sutton / Motorsport Images via Getty Images

 

The world premiere also welcomed the likes of Brad Pitt, leading the F1 movie alongside Damson Idris who wore a 3-piece pinstripe suit by Prada with no shirt.

 

“I wanted something that felt modern and sophisticated,” he told Vogue. “It was important to me to wear something that honoured that. It means a lot to celebrate this night and all that I’ve built.”

 

Pitt wore a navy double-breasted suit with black lapels and a salmon pink shirt, almost identical to George Russell’s as the pair spotted when they bumped into each other while speaking to Craig Slater of Sky Sports.

 

The F1 movie will be released globally on 25 June and in the United States two days later.