Ferrari reveals major Lewis Hamilton problem: 'We were completely blind'

Ferrari has explained how it was "completely blind" to Lewis Hamilton's car during the British Grand Prix after losing GPS tracking. 

Hamilton started fifth and eventually finished in fourth in the chaotic, rain-affected race at Silverstone, having failed to get past the Stake of Nico Hulkenberg, who finally claimed a first career podium. 

Hamilton made the switch to slick tyres for the final time on Lap 41, but this proved one-lap too early, as Vasseur detailed the loss of the GPS whilst explaining the difficulty of the decision when to pit for the final time as the track dried.

"It was probably one lap too early to stop, because he went straight in turns three and four and lost a few seconds," Vasseur told media, including RacingNews365. 

"[Fernando] Alonso was already faster in some corners, but it was the kind of situation where if you wait for others to make the move before you, it is too late.

"When you have to make the decision on the pit wall, it is difficult, and on top of that, we lost the GPS of Lewis.

"For the whole race, we were completely blind, and we didn't know where the car was."

RacingNews365 understands that Ferrari lost the GPS of Hamilton around Lap 10 of 52, meaning his pit-stops were completed without the aid of the live-tracking. 

Vasseur also explained that after calling Hamilton in for pit-stops, Ferrari initially feared that the Briton had stayed out, owing to the GPS failures and not knowing where the car was on-track.