This is a very different Lewis Hamilton compared to the driver Ferrari fans saw during the 2025 season. Strong performances over the last two Grands Prix have lifted the seven-time world champion into second place in the drivers’ standings and established him as Mercedes’ closest challenger, a position that few would have confidently predicted at the start of the year.
Yet despite Ferrari’s recent progress, Lewis Hamilton remains cautious when discussing the possibility of fighting consistently for victories. While opportunities may arise through unusual race circumstances, the Briton made it clear that Ferrari’s ambitions extend far beyond capitalising on others’ misfortune.
“I think it will be difficult to beat Mercedes. We are focused on ourselves and on improving, and I hope this is only the beginning. We come from a difficult year, but this season we have seen really positive changes and I believe we are moving in the right direction,” Lewis Hamilton explained.
“It’s not over. We still have a lot of work to do and we need to improve further. I hope we will be ready when an opportunity presents itself. But we are here to win, we are here to do it through our own performance and because we deserve it, and that is our objective.”
Lewis Hamilton sees a stronger Ferrari taking shape
Reflecting on the first part of the season, Lewis Hamilton described his experience at Ferrari in highly positive terms, while acknowledging that there is still considerable room for improvement.
“It has been a fantastic first part of the season. Of course, it could have gone even better, but overall it has been a really positive experience,” he said.
“The harmony between me, my personal team and the wider team is better than ever. It took a year for us to truly get to know each other, but now we are more aligned than ever before. That gives us a great foundation for the future.”
Lewis Hamilton also highlighted the atmosphere inside Maranello, praising the commitment and passion he sees throughout the organisation.
“There is still a lot of work to do and plenty of areas where we can improve, but in terms of motivation everyone is incredibly passionate. When I return to the factory, I see a level of love and dedication for the team that is truly special. The challenge is to channel all of that energy in the right direction, and that’s what I’m trying to help achieve.”
Lewis Hamilton explains his influence on the SF-26 project
One of the most significant differences between this season and the previous one, according to Lewis Hamilton, is the level of involvement he has had in shaping the current Ferrari.
The seven-time world champion believes his input has played a role in the development of the SF-26, something he did not experience with the previous car.
“Last year I drove a car that I inherited, one where I had no influence over the project. Now I’m driving a car where I have had a voice. There are elements of this car that I specifically requested, and the team listened to me. That has been fantastic.” This is the result of collaboration between a huge number of people who contributed to the project. Every single person in this team has something valuable to offer. When I arrived, my goal was to encourage everyone to give their best and constantly improve.”
Lewis Hamilton also pointed to his own personal development as an important factor.
“We can always improve, myself included. This year I arrived with a better mindset, better physical condition and a better overall approach. So yes, it is a combination of all those factors.”
Mercedes still sets the benchmark
Although Ferrari left Monaco with an important podium finish, Lewis Hamilton insists Mercedes remains the reference point in Formula 1.
Even on circuits where power unit performance plays a smaller role, the Mercedes package has continued to impress.
“I think it’s simply a matter of aerodynamic downforce,” Lewis Hamilton explained.
“In Miami, we brought an upgrade package that the team worked extremely hard on, while Mercedes introduced nothing and still won comfortably. The following weekend they brought upgrades worth around four or five tenths of a second, although the characteristics of that circuit didn’t fully showcase their potential.”
He also pointed to Monaco as further evidence of Mercedes’ aerodynamic advantage.
“When I was following the Mercedes cars, I could see how much earlier they were able to get on the throttle and how much more downforce they had through the corners. That is simply aerodynamic load.”
Charles Leclerc follows Lewis Hamilton on brake choice
Lewis Hamilton also confirmed that he switched to Carbon Industries brake discs starting from the Japanese Grand Prix, a move that has attracted attention following Charles Leclerc’s recent decision to test the same configuration.
“It was something I had been asking for for a long time. I always analyse every element of our car and try to understand how we can improve it,” Lewis Hamilton revealed – “In this case, the choice comes down to driver preference and feeling. Both of us tested the solution and initially Charles didn’t want it, preferring the configuration he was already using. Later he changed his mind, but for me it makes no difference.”
The Ferrari driver was also keen to emphasise that no single component transforms a car’s competitiveness.
“There is never one factor that makes all the difference. My goal is to contribute in a way that improves the entire team, and Charles is part of that project as well.”
The comments paint the picture of a Lewis Hamilton who is increasingly integrated within Ferrari, increasingly influential in the development process, and fully committed to helping the Scuderia return to the top of Formula 1 through genuine performance rather than fortunate circumstances.
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