Lewis Hamilton is actively pushing for significant changes within Ferrari after a challenging start to his first season with the iconic Italian team. Speaking ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, Hamilton emphasized his refusal to become another talented driver who fails to secure a world championship while driving for Ferrari, revealing an intense commitment to transforming the team’s prospects.

The seven-time world champion has had an underwhelming debut campaign in the SF-25, failing to reach the podium in his opening 12 races, as the car has fallen short of expectations set during pre-season, where it was anticipated to mount a title challenge. Despite this, Hamilton remains determined to turn things around, leveraging his experience and detailed feedback to drive improvements from within the team’s operations at Maranello.

Extensive Collaboration with Ferrari Leadership and Engineering Teams

In the weeks leading up to the Belgian Grand Prix, Hamilton has been deeply involved in discussions and hands-on work with Ferrari’s key figures. He disclosed that he has spent significant time at the factory, conducting frequent meetings with top executives including Chairman John Elkann, CEO Benedetto Vigna, and Team Principal Fred Vasseur. Hamilton has also engaged closely with Loic Serra, head of car development, and leaders across various departments to address issues with the car’s engine and suspension for the upcoming season.

Hamilton explained that his commitment stretches beyond routine feedback:

“I was at the factory a couple of days in each week. Naturally, you’re going over where we were at the previous race, things we need to change. I held a lot of meetings. I’ve called lots of meetings with the heads of the team, so I’ve sat with (chairman) John (Elkann), (chief executive) Benedetto (Vigna), (team principal) Fred (Vasseur). And several meetings I’ve sat with the head of our car development, with Loic (Serra), with also the heads of different departments – talking about the engine for next year, suspension for next year – things that you want, issues that I have with this car.”

Throughout the year, Hamilton has submitted detailed documents outlining his suggestions and concerns. After the first few races, he delivered an extensive report, followed by two more documents during the mid-season break. His current focus is on addressing these points through direct engagement with the team, seeking both structural changes and technical solutions for the immediate and future car development.

Focused Efforts on Both This Year’s Car and Future Developments

Hamilton’s feedback covers not only problems with the current SF-25 but also the design of next year’s car. He indicated that some elements from this season’s car should be carried forward, while others require redesigning to enhance performance and reliability. He emphasized the importance of structural adjustments within Ferrari’s organization to ensure the entire team operates more efficiently and cohesively.

Reflecting on his work with engineers on the future car, Hamilton shared,

“I tried the 2026 car for the first time and started working on that. The engineers come to the room and sit and debrief with every single one of them, so a big, big push.”

This reveals his hands-on approach and drive to influence development well beyond his current campaign.

Historical Challenges at Ferrari Heighten Hamilton’s Resolve

Ferrari’s fans and leadership are well aware of the drought in recent silverware, with the team’s last Constructors’ Championship coming in 2008 and its last Drivers’ Championship claimed by Kimi Raikkonen in 2007. Since then, several high-profile drivers, including Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel, both former world champions elsewhere, have failed to capture a title during their stints with Ferrari. Kimi Raikkonen also could not extend his championship tally during his second tenure with the team.

Hamilton’s teammate Charles Leclerc has spent seven seasons at Ferrari without mounting a sustained title challenge, highlighting the team’s ongoing struggles to consistently contend for the championship. Against this backdrop, Hamilton is intensifying his efforts to help Ferrari reclaim its status at the pinnacle of Formula 1.

Determined to Secure an Eighth World Title

The 40-year-old driver has shared insights on his motivation, focusing on his ambition to earn an unprecedented eighth drivers‘ title late in his career. He expressed deep admiration for the passion and scale of the Ferrari organization but acknowledged operational inefficiencies that have prevented the team from achieving consistent success.

Hamilton explained,

“The reason for it is that I see a huge amount of potential within this team. The passion, nothing comes close to that. It’s a huge organisation with a lot of moving parts, and not all of them are firing on all the cylinders they need to be. That’s ultimately why the team’s not had the success that I think it deserves.”

He accepts the responsibility to challenge every part of the team, especially decision-makers.

“I feel that it’s my job to challenge absolutely every area, to challenge everybody in the team, particularly the guys that are at the top making the decisions.”

Hamilton highlighted the pattern among Ferrari’s recent star drivers:

“If you look at the team over the last 20 years, they’ve had amazing drivers – you’ve had Kimi, you’ve had Fernando, you’ve had Sebastian – all world champions; however, they didn’t win a world championship. For me, I refuse for that to be the case with me.”

Committed to making a difference, Hamilton insists he is pushing beyond expectations to create change:

“So, I’m going the extra mile. I’ve obviously been very fortunate to have had experiences in two other great teams. Whilst things are for sure going to be different, because there’s a different culture and everything, I think sometimes if you take the same path all the time, you get the same result.”

He praised Ferrari’s responsiveness to his calls for improvements in multiple areas including marketing and engineering, adding that progress is visible but acknowledges there is more work ahead.

“I’m just challenging certain things. They’ve been incredibly responsive. We’ve been improving in so many areas, through marketing, through everything we’re continuously delivering for sponsors, the way the engineers continue to work. There’s lots of work and improvements to be made, but very responsive.”

Hamilton seeks to galvanize the team, saying,

“I guess ultimately, I’m just trying to really create allies within the organisation and get them geed up, get them pushing for… I’m here to win, and I don’t have as much time as this one (Mercedes’ 18-year-old Kimi Antonelli) here.”

So, it’s crunch time. For me, I truly believe in the potential of this team. I really believe they can win multiple world championships moving forwards. They already have an amazing legacy, but during my time, that’s my sole goal.

—Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari driver

Upcoming Belgian Grand Prix and Season Outlook

The Formula 1 season resumes this weekend with the Belgian Grand Prix, featuring the return of the Sprint format. The event will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, offering a packed schedule of practice sessions, qualifying, sprint races, and the main Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton’s push for change at Ferrari comes at a critical moment in the season, as both he and the team strive to close the gap to leaders and position themselves for championship contention. How the team responds to his detailed feedback and the upgrades planned for the next car will be crucial in determining Ferrari’s trajectory moving forward.

Our Reader’s Queries

Q. Is Lewis Hamilton vegan?

A. Lewis Hamilton, an F1 driver, openly supports veganism. In addition, he invests in businesses focused on plant-based products.