Lewis Hamilton details Ferrari limitation in latest Mercedes defeat

Lewis Hamilton has revealed the biggest limitation of his Ferrari SF-26 after the Silverstone sprint race, pointing to a critical power deficit that left him helpless against the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli.

Hamilton started from sprint pole position and looked in control during the early stages, keeping Antonelli at arm's length as the pair pulled away from the rest of the field at the front.

But the 19-year-old Italian soon reeled Hamilton in and soared past on the back straight, with the seven-time world champion unable to offer any meaningful resistance. 

Hamilton was blunt in his assessment afterwards.

"Tough race to keep the Mercedes behind," he said. 

"I did say that was potentially the case yesterday and obviously with it being so windy today, a big, big headwind down the back straight, he came flying past. 

“I was pushing as hard as I could, I gave it absolutely everything. But well done to Kimi and we've got work to do to try and close that gap so we can keep up."

Hamilton pinpointed the exact moment on the circuit where the power disadvantage hurt him most: "One of the biggest places is as you come out and turn when you come around Stowe, Turn 15. 

“You get on the power, there's no power, and that's where he was catching me massively, then getting into the overtake mode."

With no answer to Antonelli's pace once the Mercedes driver found a way through, Hamilton had to settle for second place at a circuit where he has won more times than any other driver in history.

Hamilton conceded that once Antonelli moved inside the one-second overtake mode window, the writing was on the wall.

"As soon as that [one-second barrier] was lost, I knew that was coming."