'I won't stop until we get there!' - Hamilton makes eighth title promise

The seven-time world champion and nine-time British GP victor believes Ferrari can challenge Mercedes at certain events despite power deficit; watch Practice at 12.30pm and Sprint Qualifying at 4.30pm on Friday at the British Grand Prix, live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky One

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Lewis Hamilton has promised the Silverstone crowd he "won't stop until we get there" in pursuit of a record eighth world title in Formula 1 ahead of this weekend's British Grand Prix.

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

That historic first win for Ferrari in Spain raised expectations 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-leading Kimi Antonelli, after eight rounds.

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

And after the fans gave a roaring cheer when asked if they would like to see the Ferrari driver claim an eighth title in the sport, the 41-year-old responded: "I tell you, I won't stop til we get there."

After the high of victory in Barcelona - which ended victory droughts dating back to 2024 for both driver and team - Ferrari experienced what Hamilton called a "reality check" in Austria last weekend when he finished fifth in a race won by Mercedes' George Russell.

Mercedes lead both world championships with Russell's win last Sunday their seventh from opening eight races of the season. They have also taken pole position at every Grand Prix so far.

"There's a lot of races ahead but I'm a realist as well. Mercedes have won pretty much everything, particularly at the beginning, very easily," said Hamilton.

"Even when people brought upgrades, they still won and they didn't bring an upgrade so I think they have plenty in their pocket.

"Whether or not we can compete with them at this current stage, we are pushing really hard to try and close the gap on those straights.

"If we had the same power as them, we would be battling them every single weekend. That's what we are working towards."

Hamilton is comfortably the most-successful driver in British Grand Prix history with nine wins at the blue-riband event - four more than any other - while he has finished in the top four at Silverstone in each of the last 13 seasons.

And while set to be spurred on for more success in front of what is expected to be a record weekend crowd of 565,000, the Briton is staying realistic on what Ferrari can do on such a power-sensitive track against Mercedes in particular.

"It's not that I'm not confident. It's that the fact is we've got long straights," Hamilton said in the earlier drivers' press conference.

"There's only a few corners to charge the engine, so the [MGU-]K will be switched off for a large portion of the lap and that's where we will struggle probably the most. The deficit could be twice as big."

Nonetheless, Hamilton, who has regularly conjured up something special for his home event in both wet and dry conditions, is hoping to feed off the passionate Silverstone support.

"You think about just obviously executing the best you can through the weekend, trying to bring the right energy, absorbing the amazing energy that we have here from all the fans.

"I think Nigel [Mansell] said it best, that on your home turf you get that extra bit of speed coming from the energy from the fans. So, I'm hoping that propels us and helps us close the gaps for those guys that are ahead.

Friday July 3 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 4 9.30am: F3 Sprint* 11am: British GP Sprint build-up* 12pm: BRITISH GP SPRINT* 1.40pm: F2 Sprint* 2.50pm: British GP Qualifying build-up* 4pm: BRITISH GP QUALIFYING* 6pm: F1 Academy Race 1 6.45pm: Ted's Qualifying Notebook

Sunday July 5 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: Chequered Flag: British GP reaction 6pm: Ted's Notebook

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