Lewis Hamilton wants a Formula 1 Ferrari car that reflects his own DNA, but Jerome D’Ambrosio makes it clear: the primary focus remains performance.
Ferrari is already looking ahead to the 2026 Formula 1 season, and although seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton would like to leave his personal mark on the future Ferrari project, Jerome D’Ambrosio has clarified that the car’s development will not be centered around any one driver. In an interview, the Belgian executive, who serves as deputy to team principal Frédéric Vasseur, emphasized that while the feedback from Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc is absolutely valuable, the Maranello-based team’s main objective is to pursue maximum performance first and foremost. Only after that will the car be tailored to the driving characteristics and preferences of its drivers.
At the Belgian Grand Prix, Ferrari begins its chase of McLaren with the introduction of a new rear suspension system, designed to reduce the performance gap between the two teams. However, both the Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championship standings tell a harsh truth: the deficit to the Woking-based squad is significant and may prove difficult to overcome this season. Despite that, Frédéric Vasseur’s team is not giving up. Even while continuing to develop the current car, the minds in Maranello are also turning toward the 2026 season, which will mark the beginning of a new era of technical regulations in Formula 1. In such a pivotal year, there will be no room for mistakes.
While the official confirmation of Frédéric Vasseur’s continuation as team principal is still pending—after a period of criticism triggered by the underwhelming performance of the SF-25 car earlier in the season—internal restructuring continues within Scuderia Ferrari. Under the experienced and watchful eye of Lewis Hamilton, changes are already underway. The British superstar, who will make his Ferrari debut in 2025, is aiming to shape a car that suits his unique style and is reportedly counting on the expertise of Loïc Serra. However, back at the Maranello factory, the technical direction remains guided by different priorities.
Jerome D’Ambrosio on Ferrari’s future: the hunt for pure performance is underway
Providing insight into the direction of the 2026 car project is Jerome D’Ambrosio, who shared a preview of Ferrari’s development philosophy during an interview with Auto Motor und Sport. According to the former racing driver and current Ferrari senior manager, the Scuderia’s early development stages are solely focused on achieving the highest possible performance:
“One must always be cautious when saying that a car is being built according to a particular development direction,” D’Ambrosio stated. “In the initial phases, the only real objective is to chase absolute performance.”
He explained that Loïc Serra, Ferrari’s new Head of Chassis Performance Engineering, along with his engineering team, is working exclusively to build the fastest possible car based on objective performance parameters. The input from drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will become influential only later in the process, as the team begins to adapt the platform to suit individual driving styles.
“Driver feedback only comes into play in the second phase,” he explained. “At that point, it becomes crucial to ensure they have the tools they need to adjust the car to their own style. It’s a matter of finding the optimal balance and the most effective setup.”
Jerome D’Ambrosio also highlighted the importance of direct collaboration with the drivers throughout the development cycle:
“It’s obviously very important that the drivers sit down with us a couple of times during the year. We want to fully understand what they need and how we can translate those needs into performance gains,” he said. “When you really listen to them, you realize that their desires are often quite similar. The fact that Loïc and Lewis have already worked together in the past is certainly an advantage, but we also have a very strong relationship with Charles Leclerc.”
In essence, while Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari is expected to bring in a new dynamic and a wealth of experience, the 2026 Ferrari will not be designed solely to meet his preferences. Instead, the Scuderia remains firmly committed to building the fastest car possible, with driver-specific adjustments being integrated only after the performance baseline is firmly established.
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