Whilst Nico Hulkenberg celebrated with his podium debut at Silverstone, questions have been raised in the British media about Lewis Hamilton’s F1 prowess.

Silverstone should have been Hamilton’s weekend, with a renewed competitiveness in the Ferrari and wet weather conditions, the odds lined up in his favour to take his first podium with the Scuderia.

Instead, the seven-time world champion languished in P4 and was unable to produce an overtake on the Sauber of Nico Hulkenberg, a result that has been lamented by British sports writer Oliver Brown in The Telegraph.

    “Instead he was knocked out in the first phase of qualifying, creating such misery that he briefly floated the idea of breaking his Mercedes contract early.”

   Furthermore, Leclerc’s measly finishing position of P14 should also be taken into account, and while P4 is by no means a result to celebrate for Hamilton, it proves that it is the SF-25 that is holding the Ferrari drivers back rather than the champion’s racing ability.

Leclerc has also been unable to work miracles with the 2025 package, but has not received an ounce of the criticism that has been launched at Hamilton since he made his Ferrari debut.

Seven world titles does make for higher expectations, but it is not a reason to give up hope on Hamilton after Silverstone.

As F1 emerges from the ground effect era in 2026, a concept so haunted for Hamilton over the past four years, Britain would be foolish to abandon one of their most successful sporting stars quite so early.