Ferrari agrees to tackle crucial weakness after Lewis Hamilton’s repeated frustration. Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari are already addressing the understeer issues that have plagued his 2025 F1 season.

Lewis Hamilton Eyes Key Ferrari Fix for 2026 as Struggles Persist in First Season at Maranello

Lewis Hamilton’s debut season with Ferrari has been a challenging one, as persistent car issues have prevented the seven-time Formula 1 world champion from delivering the results both he and the Scuderia had hoped for. Despite occasional flashes of competitiveness, Lewis Hamilton has yet to claim a single podium finish after the opening 10 rounds of the 2025 F1 season—marking one of the slowest starts to a campaign in his illustrious career.

Ferrari have occasionally looked competitive this year, notably earlier in the season when Hamilton took pole and won the Sprint race in China. However, since the team’s disqualification from the Chinese Grand Prix, they’ve struggled to rediscover that level of form. The car’s inconsistency and underlying balance problems have left Lewis Hamilton contending with a package that hasn’t matched its 2024 predecessor in terms of pace or drivability.

In a bid to reverse their fortunes, Ferrari have pushed forward a series of performance upgrades. These will be introduced at the Austrian Grand Prix as Formula 1 enters its European leg, with the Maranello squad hoping to give Lewis Hamilton a more stable platform heading into the second half of the season.

Ferrari Working on Long-Term Solution for Hamilton’s Understeer Complaints

Ahead of the Austrian GP, Hamilton shared through Speedweek that Ferrari are already working behind the scenes to address a specific issue that has been troubling him all year—persistent understeer, especially at mid-corner. The British driver has made it clear to the team that the current car’s handling characteristics have compromised his ability to extract performance, particularly in traction zones.

According to Hamilton, Ferrari’s 2026 car will feature significant changes designed to eliminate this troublesome understeer. He revealed that work on next year’s chassis is already well underway, with the engineering team prioritizing improved balance and handling response to better suit his driving style. The long-term focus, he explained, is to ensure that the same issues don’t carry over into next season’s regulations.

New Floor Among Ferrari Upgrades for Austrian Grand Prix

While eyes are on 2026, the Briton is also looking for short-term progress as Ferrari brings a new floor to the Austrian Grand Prix. This upgrade is aimed at addressing the inconsistency in the SF-25’s performance—a recurring concern for Lewis Hamilton, who remarked after the Spanish Grand Prix that the balance was among the worst he had ever experienced in a Formula 1 car.

The floor update is part of a broader development program that will continue into the British Grand Prix, where Ferrari are expected to introduce more substantial upgrades, including a revised rear suspension package. These changes are designed to improve overall grip and enhance the SF-25’s predictability—two areas where the team has fallen behind rivals like McLaren and Mercedes.

While Lewis Hamilton remains cautious about the potential impact of the Austrian updates, he acknowledges that even incremental gains could be vital in what has been a frustrating season so far. If the latest changes succeed in smoothing out the car’s unpredictable behavior, they could serve as the first meaningful step in Ferrari’s mission to build a more competitive platform—not just for the remainder of 2025, but well into the next regulation cycle.