Damon Hill suggests Lewis Hamilton pushed himself too hard behind the scenes during his first year at Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton is fully aware that the 2026 Formula 1 season will play a decisive role in defining his long-term legacy at Ferrari, particularly after a difficult and underwhelming first year with the Scuderia.

Over the course of one of the most successful careers in Formula 1 history, Lewis Hamilton has broken or matched almost every major benchmark the sport has to offer. However, a handful of milestones remain elusive. Fernando Alonso’s exceptional longevity means Hamilton may never become the most experienced driver in Formula 1 history, while four narrowly missed drivers’ championships denied him the chance to stand alone as the most successful world champion the sport has ever seen.

Lewis Hamilton’s decision to leave Mercedes and join Ferrari was therefore widely viewed as the final, defining challenge of his Formula 1 career. Yet after completing his maiden campaign in red, it is clear that neither Hamilton nor Ferrari can be content with how the partnership has unfolded so far. The seven-time world champion is still searching for his first podium finish with the team, while Ferrari endured a clear regression during the 2025 season.

The disappointing results were compounded by operational issues within the team. Throughout the year, former Formula 1 driver Karun Chandhok publicly questioned the clarity and effectiveness of Ferrari’s radio communication with Lewis Hamilton, while the Scuderia’s strategic choice to halt development on their 2025 car earlier than several rivals ultimately left both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc fighting with uncompetitive machinery.

As Ferrari now turns its attention to the sweeping regulation changes coming in 2026, Damon Hill has offered timely advice to Lewis Hamilton. Hill believes that Hamilton’s determination to integrate rapidly at Maranello may have resulted in him taking on an excessive workload, which in turn may have compromised his on-track performance during the season.

Damon Hill believes Lewis Hamilton took on too much during his first Ferrari season

Reflecting on Lewis Hamilton’s situation during an appearance on the Drive to Wynn Podcast, Damon Hill analysed the physical and mental demands of the modern Formula 1 calendar. Hill highlighted that a 24-race season, spread across multiple continents and time zones, places unprecedented strain on drivers, regardless of their experience or success.

Hill acknowledged that Formula 1 drivers are well compensated and privileged to compete at the highest level of the sport, but stressed that the relentless nature of the calendar inevitably takes a toll. In his view, Lewis Hamilton appeared particularly affected, as he was still carrying the psychological weight of the controversial 2021 title finale and several subsequent seasons spent driving uncompetitive cars at Mercedes.

According to the 1996 F1 world champion, Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari represented an opportunity to reset his motivation and rediscover his competitive edge. However, Hill suggested that the Ferrari driver may have attempted to accelerate that process too aggressively. By immersing himself heavily in promotional commitments, internal meetings and technical discussions while simultaneously adapting to a new team, new culture and new car, Lewis Hamilton may have left himself with insufficient time to recover mentally and physically.

Hill ultimately concluded that Lewis Hamilton would benefit from stepping away from Formula 1 over the off-season, allowing himself time to disconnect from the sport and return refreshed ahead of what could be a defining campaign in 2026.

Ferrari already adapting its approach to support Lewis Hamilton in 2026

Despite the 2025 season having only just concluded, Ferrari have already intensified their preparations for the 2026 Formula 1 campaign. With a completely revised technical rule set on the horizon, the Scuderia believes the reset could offer an opportunity to transform their competitive position and potentially leap from midfield frustration back into championship contention.

As part of this forward-looking strategy, Ferrari have begun implementing internal changes aimed at better supporting Lewis Hamilton as he continues his adaptation at Maranello. One area of focus has been communication, particularly given the absence of Peter Bonnington, who played a central role in Lewis Hamilton’s success during his championship-winning years at Mercedes.

Within the team, there is growing recognition that improvements are needed in how information is relayed to Lewis Hamilton during sessions and races. Reports suggest Ferrari are reassessing elements of their engineering structure, including the role of Riccardo Adami, to ensure Lewis Hamilton receives clearer and more consistent guidance from the pit wall.

Ferrari are also developing a revised steering wheel concept tailored specifically for Lewis Hamilton ahead of 2026. The new design is expected to more closely resemble the layout and ergonomics Hamilton was accustomed to at Mercedes, while moving away from several features introduced during Sebastian Vettel’s tenure. This change is being driven both by Hamilton’s preferences and by the demands of the new regulations, which will significantly alter how drivers manage systems while on track.

Following the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi, Lewis Hamilton hinted that he intended to step back from constant digital engagement during the winter break. If followed through, this decision would align closely with Damon Hill’s advice, potentially allowing the Briton to return to Ferrari in 2026 mentally refreshed, physically recharged and better positioned to extract maximum performance alongside Charles Leclerc under Formula 1’s new era.