Amid 2025 struggles, Lewis Hamilton is already looking ahead to F1’s new era in 2026 and how he can help Ferrari get back to the top.
Lewis Hamilton Plots a Red Revival With 2026 in His Sights
In early 2024, Lewis Hamilton sent shockwaves across the sporting world when he announced that he would be leaving Mercedes for Ferrari.
His 12-year partnership with Mercedes did not end on the high he would have hoped for, but there was something to look forward to, with the potential for Ferrari and Hamilton to take each other back to their winning ways.
However, the Brit’s introduction to life with the Scuderia has been anything but smooth.
While a Sprint win in China offered a glimmer of hope, Hamilton’s absence on the podium during each Grand Prix has been a glaring disappointment.
His best Grand Prix finish this year was a P4 finish at the British GP – a positive for Hamilton’s home race. However, it ended his 12-year podium streak at Silverstone, and it was yet another race where Hamilton struggled with the SF-25.
Hamilton called it “the most difficult car” he’s driven in the wet, describing the SF-25 as almost undrivable in damp conditions.
However, Hamilton is still determined to make the most out of his move to Ferrari.
He already has his eyes set on the 2026 challenger, working closely with the engineers as Ferrari gear up to usher in a new era.
“I’m working with Loic [Serra] and all the guys at the factory to make sure that the next car will have some of my DNA, and hopefully we’ll be able to get some of the characteristics that I’m hoping to have in it next year.” – Lewis Hamilton.
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Settling Was Never the Plan
That phrase – “my DNA” – is no throwaway line. It’s a clear signal that Hamilton’s not just biding time in red; he’s laying the foundation for a Ferrari shaped around his instincts.
In an era many thought was a retirement plan for him, the seven-time world champion is still as involved as ever behind the scenes, sitting in on technical debriefs, collaborating on simulator work, and aligning development pathways with his driving style in mind.
For much of this season, Hamilton has admitted to feeling like a passenger in a car tuned to suit Leclerc’s strengths:
“Charles has been here for a long time, and he’s been a part of evolving and developing this car, and he’s very accustomed to it. He’s found one way which the car works.
“I’ve tried all the other directions that should work but they just don’t for whatever reasons. And I’ve slowly migrated to the place where Charles does run the car, and last week our pace was the closest it’s been.” – Lewis Hamilton speaking ahead of the British GP.
That mismatch has shown in both performance and body language. But with 2026’s sweeping regulation changes on the horizon – affecting everything from aerodynamics to power units – Hamilton sees a clean slate. And with it, a rare chance to build something that feels truly his.
There’s still pride in representing Ferrari, but the romance of the move is clearly over. The mission now is practical, forward-looking, and deeply personal.
Hamilton didn’t join Ferrari to coast toward retirement. He came to write one more chapter on his terms – with a car that doesn’t just carry the prancing horse, but his imprint too.
If Ferrari can deliver what he’s asking for in 2026, it won’t just be a comeback. It could be the beginning of a reinvention.
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Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / NurPhoto
Recording Date: 06.07.2025
