Lewis Hamilton Ferrari Struggles with GPS Failure at the 2025 British Grand Prix

Unseen technical glitch leaves Ferrari blind at Silverstone, costing Hamilton a potential podium

The 2025 British Grand Prix proved to be another challenging race for Lewis Hamilton in his new chapter with Ferrari. Despite showing solid pace and consistency at Silverstone, Hamilton once again missed out on his first podium with the Scuderia.

What looked like a promising race was complicated by a behind-the-scenes technical issue that had a major impact on strategy decisions.

Ferrari Was “Completely Blind” During the Race

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur revealed after the race that Hamilton’s car had suffered a GPS failure throughout the entire Grand Prix. This meant the team had no live data on his exact location on the circuit during key moments, particularly when weather conditions were rapidly changing.

“We lost the GPS of Lewis all the race,” Vasseur said. “It means that we are completely blind and didn’t know where the car was. It was a difficult one.”

In Formula 1, GPS data plays a vital role in decision-making, especially when rain is approaching or track conditions are shifting. Without it, Ferrari struggled to judge the right time to bring Hamilton in for tyre changes.

Wrong Pit Stop Timing Cost Hamilton a Podium Shot

Hamilton switched from intermediates to slick tyres on Lap 41, but the track was still too wet in several sections. He slid through Turns 3 and 4, losing 4 to 5 seconds during his out lap crucial seconds that could have positioned him ahead of Nico Hülkenberg, who finished third.

“I think you can say now that it was probably one lap too early,” said Vasseur, adding that F1 strategy is “a game of anticipation.”

Performance Highlights: Lewis Hamilton Ferrari at Silverstone

Hamilton qualified P5 and maintained strong pace throughout the race, despite the tough conditions. He ultimately finished P4, behind both McLaren drivers and Hulkenberg.

“The car is still very tricky in the wet,” Hamilton admitted post-race. “I’ll be working closely with the team on the 2026 car to make sure we get this right.”

Race Results – 2025 British Grand Prix (Top 5)

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