Hamilton working on the 2026 Ferrari: "making sure it naturally integrates my DNA"

For long weeks, Carlos Sainz et Lewis Hamilton have continued to adopt a comparable discourse, sometimes even similar in every way. The famous adaptation time advocated by the two pilots, the one linked to getting used to a new engine, a new braking system, a new philosophy of car in short, has failed in their performance and their ease behind the wheel of the Williams and Ferrari. Questioned numerous times on the subject, the two concerned have warned their most fervent supporters: no performance as such will be expected from them this year.

In the case of the British, the work done by Charles Leclerc In terms of development, it appears to be a solid foundation to build on. A regular driver of the car, the Monegasque driver seems to be leading his teammate towards a better understanding of the whole thing. “Charles has been with the team for a long time and has contributed to the development of this car, recalled Lewis Hamilton in comments relayed by Formula Passion. He's used to it, he likes it, he's found a way to make it work. I've tried all the other methods that should theoretically work, but for one reason or another, they don't. Little by little, I've gotten closer to how he sets up the car."

The future in the present for Hamilton

More successful in Spielberg in particular, the seven-time world champion managed to climb to fourth place in the Austrian Grand Prix, where his teammate was making even more progress. Finishing his weekend on the podium, Charles Leclerc is indeed making a decidedly more efficient progress than Lewis Hamilton. Nurturing ambitions of competitiveness, the former standard-bearer of Mercedes intends to react.

For his part, the Monegasque driver is cautious, yet ambitious, about the potential represented by the new technical regulations introduced in 2026. Highlighting the learnings Ferrari has made, which have allowed the team to avoid repeating certain mistakes in the future, he hopes to see the Scuderia benefit from a high level of performance over a full season. Lewis Hamilton, for his part, wants to capitalize as quickly as possible on the presence of top-tier profiles within the team. “I’m working with Loïc and everyone at the factory to make sure the next car naturally incorporates a bit of my DNA, launched the seven-time world champion. I hope we can achieve some of the characteristics I want for next year."

Coming off a fourth consecutive year of hard work without concrete results, the Briton certainly sees 2026 as a sort of last chance. Charles Leclerc, although less vocal on the subject, has notably begun work on the simulator, and intends to use his initial impressions to get ahead of the project. Without a doubt, the countdown has already begun in Maranello.

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