Hamilton: Ferrari showed 'weakness' with Silverstone antics

Lewis Hamilton has suggested that Ferrari's exuberant celebrations after Sebastian Vettel won the British Grand Prix are a sign of "weakness". After moving eight points clear of Hamilton in the drivers' standings, Vettel said, in Italian, over team radio: "We did it at their home. Now we take the English flag and hang it in Maranello!"

Mercedes had won the previous five races at Silverstone, with Hamilton heading to this year's race with four consecutive home wins under his belt.

Hamilton could not take a record-breaking sixth British GP, however, as a poor start and contact with Kimi Raikkonen left him to recover a second-place finish behind Vettel.

The reigning champion immediately pointed to "interesting tactics" from Ferrari after the race, suggesting Raikkonen's collision with him might not have been accidental, and he continued to cast glances at Ferrari's conduct at the German Grand Prix - where Vettel will seek a first win at his local Hockenheimring track.

"I see that as a weakness rather than a whole need to even say anything," Hamilton said of Vettel's celebrations. "For me it's something that we can work with, it doesn't affect me whatsoever. Good for him.

"We will keep our heads down, keep ourselves quiet and focus on trying to do a better job across the board.

A first @scuderiaferrari win at Silverstone since 2011 ???? . #BritishGP #F1 #Formula1 #Vettel #Ferrari

A post shared by FORMULA 1® (@f1) on Jul 8, 2018 at 8:29am PDT

"That's our approach right now. I hope when we do the job this weekend, it won't be focused on whether we did it on their home ground or anything like that.

"I don't think that's going to be necessary. We're just trying to do a better job."

Hamilton has committed his future to Mercedes until 2020 this week and he remains certain that the Silver Arrows can overturn Ferrari's lead in both championships before the end of 2018.

"Our job is to focus on doing the best we can," he said. "I think we have done a really good job considering certain things that we've faced and what they have brought to different races.

"I have never been so confident with my team, after these past races I have never been so empowered and confident by the things that I have learned that we're facing."