Lewis Hamilton is putting in significant effort to ensure that Ferrari’s 2026 Formula 1 car aligns better with his driving style. The seven-time world champion has faced a challenging start at Ferrari after moving from Mercedes, struggling to adapt to the SF-25.
At 40 years old, Hamilton has had difficulty connecting with Ferrari’s 2025 car and has been outperformed by teammate Charles Leclerc, despite some recent progress. With Ferrari’s championship hopes fading for this season, focus has shifted toward the 2026 season and its new regulations. Hamilton is keen to imprint his personal "DNA" into Ferrari’s upcoming car.
"Charles and the team managed to get the car working; I tried various approaches that should have been successful, but for some reason, they weren’t," Hamilton told the media, including Silverstone’s crash.net. "Gradually, I’ve gotten closer to how Charles sets up the car. Last week in Austria, I was closest to the race pace and felt the most similar to him. Yet, it remains a tricky balance, and driving the car is still uncomfortable."
Hamilton added, "I’ll be working closely with Loic (Serra) and the factory team to ensure some of my DNA is naturally included in the next car."
Meanwhile, Italian media has been urging Ferrari to heed Hamilton’s feedback following a tough first half of the 2025 season. Deputy Team Principal Jerome Vasseur (likely intended as Vasseur instead of Dunbrosio) confirmed the team is carefully considering input from both Hamilton and Leclerc, noting the drivers have "very similar demands" regarding what they want from the car.
"We are listening to the drivers. They are not just individuals; their requests often overlap," Vasseur said. "During factory meetings, it’s interesting to see the drivers often ask for very similar things from the car. We aim to take all of that into account to bring packages that maximize downforce and performance. There’s a lot we can do to give drivers the right tools to ensure the car adapts to their driving styles as much as possible."
He also explained that development has two stages: a general overall balance for performance, followed by fine-tuning details.
Fan Take: This insight into Hamilton’s determination to influence Ferrari’s 2026 car is crucial for racing fans, as it reveals his commitment to overcoming early struggles and striking a better harmony with his vehicle. If successful, it could lead to a revitalized Ferrari-Hamilton partnership, shaking up the 2026 championship battle and injecting fresh excitement into the sport.
