Lewis Hamilton: Ferrari driver ‘will not stop’ in Formula 1 until he wins record eighth world title | F1 News

Lewis Hamilton has promised the Silverstone crowd he will “not stop until we get there” in his pursuit of a record eighth Formula 1 world title ahead of this weekend’s British Grand Prix.

Hamilton prepares for his 20th home event enjoying a much-improved second season at Ferrari having won one race – last month’s Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix – and finished on the podium four times.

That historic victory for Ferrari in Spain raised hopes that the 41-year-old could challenge for a record eighth world title this year. He sits third in the standings, 46 points behind Mercedes title leader Kimi Antonelli, after eight rounds.

Hamilton appeared in front of the Silverstone crowd on Thursday evening in the main pit named in his honour, on the track where he won a record nine times, during The F1 Show to Sky Sports F1.

After fans booed when asked if they would like to see the Ferrari driver take his eighth title in the sport, the 41-year-old replied: “I’m telling you, I’m not going to stop until we get there.”

‘If we had the same strength, we would fight them every weekend’

After a big victory in Barcelona – which ended the drought of victory since 2024 for both driver and team – Ferrari experienced what Hamilton called a “real check” in Austria last weekend when he finished fifth in a race won by George Russell of Mercedes.

Mercedes lead both world championships with Russell winning last Sunday for the seventh time in the opening eight races of the season. They have also taken the top spot in every Grand Prix so far.

Hamilton admits his former team still have “a lot in their pocket” in terms of efficiency but says Ferrari are working hard to make up for their biggest deficit in the Silver Arrows – outright pace.

“There are many races to come but I am also a real player. Mercedes won pretty much everything, especially at the start, easily,” said Hamilton.

“Even if people bring improvements, they still won and they didn’t bring improvement so I think they have a lot in their pocket.

“But there are races that we will be able to challenge.

“Regardless of whether we can compete with them at this stage, we are pushing hard to try to close the gap with those teams.

“If we had the same strength, we’d be fighting them every weekend. That’s what we’re working on.”

Can Hamilton claim a historic 10th British GP victory on Sunday?

Hamilton is the most successful driver in British Grand Prix history with nine wins at the blue-riband event – more than any other – while also finishing in the top four at Silverstone in the last 13 seasons.

And while more success will be encouraged in front of what is expected to be a record weekend crowd of 565,000, the Brits will be left wondering what Ferrari can do at the power-sensitive track against Mercedes in particular.

“It’s not that I don’t have confidence in myself. The truth is that we’ve been straight for a long time,” Hamilton said at the previous drivers’ press conference.

“I think this weekend is going to be an unprecedented weekend in terms of electricity use. All of us drivers have been talking about it in driver’s talks, just. [about] how little power will be with this song. We are running out of battery power.

“There are a few corners to charge the engine, so [MGU-]IK will be off for most of the lap and that is where we will struggle the most. The deficit would be twice as big.”

Still, Hamilton, who always puts together something special at his home event in both wet and dry conditions, is hoping to capitalize on Silverstone’s support.

“You think about doing your best at the weekend, you try to bring the right energy, you get the incredible energy we have here from all the fans.

“I think Nigel [Mansell] to say the best, that in your home environment you get that little speed from the power from the fans. So, I’m hoping that will push us and help us fill the gaps for those guys up front.

British GP schedule for Sky Sports F1

Friday July 3rd
7.40am: F1 Academy Practice
8.45am: F3 Practice
9.55am: F2 Practice
12pm: British GP Practice (session starts at 12.30pm)*
1.55pm: F3 Qualifying*
2.50pm: F2 Qualifying*
3.35pm: British GP Sprint Qualifying (session starts at 4.30pm)*
5.55pm: F1 Academy qualifying

Saturday July 4th
9.30am: F3 Sprint*
11am: British GP Sprint build-up*
12pm: BRITISH GP SPRINT*
1.40pm: F2 Sprint*
2.50pm: British GP Qualifying buildup*
4pm: BRITISH GP QUALIFYING*
6pm: F1 Academy Race 1
6.45pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook

Sunday July 5th
8.20am: F3 Feature Race*
9.55am: F1 Academy Race 2*
11.10am: F2 Feature Race*
12.55pm: Grand Prix Sunday: British GP build-up*
3pm: THE BRITISH GRAND PRIX*
5pm: Checkered Flag: British GP reaction
6pm: Ted’s Briefing

*also on Sky Sports Main Event

Formula 1 is at Silverstone on Sprint weekend for the British Grand Prix – live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky One – with Sunday’s race at 3pm. Stream Sky Sports NOW – no contract, cancel anytime