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

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 race 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 currently sits third in the standings, 46 points behind Mercedes' title-leading Kimi Antonelli, after eight rounds.

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Hamilton appeared in front of the Silverstone crowd on Thursday evening on the main pit straight named in his honour on Thursday evening 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, Hamilton responded: "I tell you, I won't stop til we get there."

'If we had the same power, we would be battling them every single weekend'

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 after George Russell's victory last Sunday, their seventh win in the opening eight races of the season. They have also taken pole position at every Grand Prix so far.

Hamilton admits his former team still have "plenty in their pocket" in terms of performance but says Ferrari are working hard to close down their main deficit to the Silver Arrows - straight-line speed.

"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.

"But there is also races we will be able to challenge them.

"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."

Sky Sports F1's British GP schedule

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

*also on Sky Sports Main Event

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