Lewis Hamilton's chances of winning with Ferrari at Silverstone in 2026 are hindered by the car's 'Super Clipping' issue, affecting its performance on high-speed tracks. Despite a strong history at Silverstone, the new engine regulations pose significant challenges.
āIt was one of the most enjoyable races Iāve had in a long, long time.ā Lewis Hamiltonās 2025 campaign left a sort of dry spell, but dragging his Ferrari to a hard-fought P3 finish behind Mercedesā Kimi Antonelli and George Russell at the Chinese Grand Prix? That went a long way to wash away the worry.
For the Tifosi, seeing the seven-time World Champion finally spray champagne in red would feel like a step in the right direction. Naturally, expectations would rise, and Lewis Hamilton will get the moral boost he needs to secure his maiden Ferrari victory at his home race in Silverstone.
So shouldnāt the fans be all glee? A 45% win rate with 9 historic wins is nothing to joke about, but there is a harsh reality of the 2026 grid that needs some recognition before we all get swept up in the British Grand Prix hype. As much as everyone wants to see that Silverstone magic, the 2026 Ferrari SF-26 has a glaring weakness that turns high-speed, power-hungry tracks into an absolute nightmare. In short, āSuper Clipping.ā The new engine regulations have given rise to this phenomenon, where the car abruptly exhausts its deployable electrical energy before reaching the end of a long straight.
And when you pair that with the telemetry from qualifying in Shanghai, the picture gets a bit murky for Ferrari on fast circuits. A massive 40 mph at the end of the straight for Lewis Hamilton as his deployment cuts out. Take that number and hold it against Antonelli and Russell, losing just 29 mph? That gives Mercedes a blistering 7-10 mph advantage before the braking zones. And this problem was not a one-time thing.
The 'Super Clipping' issue refers to the car's abrupt exhaustion of deployable electrical energy before the end of long straights, impacting performance.
Lewis Hamilton has a total of 9 historic wins at Silverstone, contributing to a 45% win rate at the circuit.
Ferrari will struggle with the new engine regulations that lead to performance issues, particularly on high-speed tracks like Silverstone.
The article suggests that there may be a street circuit where Hamilton could achieve a Ferrari victory, though it does not specify which one.
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The brutal 1.2km back straight in South Florida completely exposed the Ferrari power unit despite the team rocking an extensive upgrade on its SF-26. The straight-line deficit dropped the Scuderia entirely out of podium contention, leaving Hamilton to scrape by with a quiet P7 finish while Mercedes ran away with the victory. The problem goes so deep that the Ferrari team principal, Fred Vasseur, also shared that the team might not be able to fix the super clipping problem till the introduction of a new engine.
And now, with Silverstone, with its sweeping corners and long straights, falling directly into that exact same danger zone that just ruined Ferrariās weekend in Miami, is there any silver lining for the Brit?
The right stage. At slow-speed, high-downforce tracks, Ferrari practically erases that straight-line Mercedes advantage. You could basically thank the active aero on the back and the front of the cars, along with the perfect balance that basically delivers peak performance around fast or slow cornering situations. When the stage shifts to only relying on mechanical grip and low-speed agility, the SF-26 suddenly transforms into a completely different beast.
Pair that with Hamiltonās swagger, and you get the biggest weapon in Maranelloās arsenal. While Miami was a missed opportunity, Shanghai gave us everything we needed to be sure of Hamiltonās comfort in his new home. Quick flashback to the fierce intra-team battle he had with Charles Leclerc and Vasseurās recognition of the same: āItās good to have two cars fighting also at the top.ā
To remove the Silver Arrowsā chokehold, Hamilton canāt rely on the sweeping straights of Great Britain to do the heavy lifting. What he needs is a street fight, and the Monaco GP gives him exactly that. So, forget the Silverstone fairytale for a moment. If you want to witness a historic Ferrari masterclass in 2026, youād better have your calendar circled for June.