After initially turning down Lewis Hamilton’s request, Ferrari has finally approved a key change the seven-time world champion had been pushing for since his arrival. The long-awaited modification will make its debut on the 2026 Formula 1 car, marking an important step toward giving Lewis Hamilton a more familiar and comfortable working environment inside the cockpit.
Hamilton’s first season with Ferrari fell far short of expectations. His adaptation to both the team and the characteristics of the Ferrari car proved complicated, creating a challenging year for the British driver. With several difficult race weekends, a lack of confidence in the machinery, and results often outside the leading group, Lewis Hamilton now views 2026 as the decisive turning point of his Ferrari project. Next season cannot mirror 2025; otherwise, the prospect of retirement may become a real consideration for him.
When Lewis Hamilton joined Ferrari, many believed his arrival would spark internal changes at Maranello, whether through new personnel, a fresh engineering direction, or simply the wealth of knowledge he accumulated during his years of success at Mercedes. At the start of the year, the Briton had appeared highly motivated to play a transformative role within the team. However, the car’s lack of competitiveness gradually eroded that early momentum, contributing to on-track difficulties and a decline in overall motivation.
The request Ferrari refused in 2025
Lewis Hamilton arrived at Ferrari in 2025 after spending his entire Formula 1 career with Mercedes. The transition was always expected to be demanding: changing teams means adapting to new workflows, new engineers, and—most significantly—a completely different car philosophy. After twelve years in Mercedes machinery, Lewis Hamilton suddenly found himself driving a Ferrari that behaved very differently from anything he had previously experienced.
For this reason, as soon as he tested the cockpit of the SF-25, Lewis Hamilton made a specific request to Ferrari’s engineers: he wanted a redesign of a component he considered essential—the steering wheel.
The Mercedes steering wheel is known for its compact shape and clean, minimalist layout, with fewer knobs and buttons compared to its rivals. The Ferrari wheel, on the other hand, has long been one of the most complex in Formula 1. Because of that, Lewis Hamilton reportedly asked for a complete redesign, but the request was ultimately rejected for the 2025 season. As a result, he was forced to use the steering wheel concept originally introduced during Sebastian Vettel’s time at the team.
After one year, Ferrari accepts Hamilton’s request
Despite the initial refusal, it now appears that Ferrari did not dismiss Lewis Hamilton’s request entirely—they simply postponed the change until the major technical reset of 2026, when new regulations provide an opportunity to revise core components.
During FP1 in Abu Dhabi, a brand-new steering wheel design appeared for the first time, tested by Arthur Leclerc in the rookie-only session. Ferrari then used the same redesigned wheel during the post-season test, with both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton trying it on track.
The updated steering wheel features a completely overhauled design, clearly inspired by Mercedes. It is noticeably slimmer, with roughly half the number of rotary switches previously featured on the Ferrari wheel. The steering interface now aligns more closely with the solutions used by Ferrari’s competitors, abandoning the dense and complicated layout of past seasons.
The upcoming 2026 regulations also require teams to redesign their wheels to accommodate new power unit settings and controls related to active aerodynamics. This regulatory shift created the perfect moment for Ferrari to integrate Lewis Hamilton’s feedback into its long-term project.
Lewis Hamilton’s influence inside the team is therefore still strong, and the British driver appears fully committed to shaping Ferrari’s future direction. With a new steering wheel more in line with his preferences and with a fresh technical era approaching, the seven-time F1 world champion seems determined not to give up on the Ferrari dream.
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