How Hamilton Seeks to Imprint His "DNA" on the 2026 Ferrari F1 Car

The Road to 2026: Lewis Hamilton's Vision for Ferrari

As the 2025 Formula 1 season approaches its midpoint, attention is shifting toward the upcoming regulations overhaul and the preparations for the 2026 season. This transition period presents an opportunity to reflect on both current challenges and future possibilities. For Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, this moment is particularly significant as he looks to influence the direction of the next Ferrari car.

A Season of Challenges and Adaptations

Hamilton’s 2025 campaign has been marked by inconsistency, partly due to a lack of connection with the car. These limitations—both technical and in terms of feel—have prompted him to shape his contribution to the 2026 Ferrari, expressing a desire to infuse the project with his own “DNA.” This process involves identifying areas where improvements can be made, both in the present and for the future.

The SF-25, Ferrari’s current car, has proven to be challenging to balance. Charles Leclerc has leaned towards extreme setup solutions, especially in how he exploits the front end and compensates at the rear. Hamilton has experimented with various directions, some more effective than others, and has begun aligning more closely with Leclerc’s choices.

“Charles and the team found a way to make the car work. I tried all the other directions that should theoretically work, but for some reason they didn’t. So gradually I’ve gotten closer and closer to how Charles sets up the car,” said Hamilton. “Last week [in Austria] was when I got the closest, and our race pace was also the most similar. But it's still difficult. It’s a tricky balance, and the driving isn’t comfortable.”

Technical Adjustments and Personal Preferences

Power steering is one of the aspects Hamilton has focused on since his first outings with Ferrari. Beyond what emerged after Silverstone, which may be linked to the need to redesign the steering system following a suspension layout change, the Briton has asked for targeted adjustments based on personal needs and adaptation challenges that only become evident through on-track work.

It’s important to distinguish between structural problems affecting both drivers and subjective needs related to individual feeling. Steering setup, in particular, is highly personal: every driver has preferences that tend to become clear especially when changing teams and experiencing different lateral forces on track.

Some issues can’t be solved with setup alone, like the feeling in fast corners, which is an area Hamilton has struggled with all season. It’s an instability that must be managed, especially in tight high-speed corners where trust and steering precision are critical.

Looking Ahead: The 2026 Vision

Unsurprisingly, Hamilton has highlighted stability as an area needing improvement, now and in the future. “Charles has been working with a car that’s a bit more oversteery, and that approach has worked well,” said Ferrari deputy team principal Jerome d’Ambrosio. “Recently, Lewis has moved in that direction and is making it work. I think it’s a result of the current regulations. We’re seeing instability at corner entry. These cars are nervous, and drivers have to partly learn to live with that.”

There are specific technical issues limiting Leclerc as well, such as front-end struggles in slow corners. The longer and more flowing the corner, the more the SF-25 tends to understeer at the front. In sharper corners, some of these issues are masked, as seen in Austria. This makes it difficult to find a balanced compromise.

Building Flexibility for the Future

Some aspects can be improved in the short term, but others require time—especially with 2026 in mind. The goal is not necessarily to go in one specific direction but to have more operational flexibility. For instance, since the beginning of the year, Hamilton has pointed out problems with the brakes and engine braking, which he finds too aggressive. At Mercedes, those elements were smoother—a difference not easily fixed via steering wheel settings, especially for a driver who likes to trail brake into corners.

In developing a new car, engineers always seek performance through design to meet set goals for downforce and drag. That’s why cars are not built around a specific driver. Instead, the driver’s input helps identify areas where more flexibility is needed—broad themes that become guidance based on experience.

This is where Hamilton is trying to give the 2026 Ferrari his “DNA,” not just technically but also in terms of working methods. Considering the packed calendar, factory drivers often test the following year’s car in the simulator relatively late, unless there's a major regulation change. In such cases, feedback arrives earlier, but mostly at a conceptual level.

“We listen to the drivers’ input. Not just one driver, both. It’s actually interesting, because during factory meetings, it often turns out the drivers arrive at very similar requests, conceptually, about what they need from the car,” said d’Ambrosio at Silverstone. “We try to take that into account. Of course, part of development is simply about bringing a package that maximises downforce and performance. But there’s also a lot that can be done to give the drivers the right tools and conditions to work, and to make sure they can adapt the car as much as possible to their driving style.”

“There are two phases, and I don’t think they’re entirely separate. Generally, there are overall balances in the car that generate performance. Then there’s a second phase involving the details—a phase where you absolutely must listen to the drivers.”