Lewis Hamilton explains Ferrari’s long F1 title drought—and how he plans to end it. Lewis Hamilton is playing an active role in Ferrari’s Formula 1 development.

Lewis Hamilton pushes Ferrari development forward after limited input on SF-25 design

When Lewis Hamilton made the high-profile switch from Mercedes to Ferrari ahead of the 2025 Formula 1 season, he joined the Scuderia without having had a significant influence on the development of its current car, the SF-25. His arrival came after the car’s core design decisions had already been made, leaving the seven-time world champion to adapt to machinery built with different priorities.

So far, the transition has proven challenging. Aside from a Sprint race victory in Shanghai, Lewis Hamilton has found the season frustrating, with no Grand Prix podium finishes to his name. By contrast, his teammate Charles Leclerc has already celebrated four podium appearances in 2025, further highlighting the difficulties The Briton has faced in extracting consistent performance from the SF-25.

In an effort to resolve ongoing performance limitations, Ferrari introduced a new rear suspension package at the Belgian Grand Prix. Technical analyst Mark Hughes suggested that the update may also include revised dampers, aimed at giving engineers finer control over the SF-25’s ride height behavior—a key factor in maximizing aerodynamic consistency and tire management.

Despite his late arrival to Ferrari’s current technical direction, Hamilton has been proactive in driving forward development behind the scenes. In the official pre-race press conference on Thursday, he outlined how he had been compiling and sharing detailed technical feedback with the engineering team. According to Lewis Hamilton, he has already met with Loïc Serra, Ferrari’s head of performance development, along with department leaders involved in both engine and chassis design for the 2026 project.

He indicated that he had submitted multiple documents this season detailing his observations and concerns with the SF-25. One of these comprehensive reports came after the first few races, while two more were sent during the recent break. These documents addressed both immediate weaknesses in the 2025 car and strategic improvements for next season’s concept.

Lewis Hamilton made it clear that some of the problems were structural—relating to processes within the team—while others were tied directly to technical areas such as the front and rear suspension and overall handling characteristics. He emphasized the importance of identifying which traits of the current car could be carried forward, and which flaws required urgent redesign for 2026.

His desire to push Ferrari toward higher performance is deeply rooted in his respect for the team’s legacy and untapped potential. During the same press conference, Hamilton expressed that he sees immense opportunity within Ferrari, citing its passion and resources as unmatched in the sport. However, he also pointed out that the team functions like a complex machine where not all components are operating at full efficiency—an observation that, in his view, has been central to Ferrari’s lack of success in recent years.

Lewis Hamilton’s hands-on approach to technical development reflects a leadership role that could reshape Ferrari’s future. It has been reported that the team is internally evaluating which of its two drivers—Hamilton or Leclerc—will become the strategic focus for the 2026 campaign, when Formula 1’s new technical regulations come into force.

Behind the scenes, however, sources have hinted at a potential disagreement between the two drivers regarding the effectiveness of Ferrari’s latest rear suspension upgrade. While the Briton appears to remain cautiously optimistic about the car’s development trajectory, his Maranello teammate reportedly holds a different view on the impact of the new components.

As Ferrari continues to balance its ambitions for the current season with the long-term goal of returning to championship contention, Lewis Hamilton’s drive to influence both car design and team culture may prove decisive. His efforts could be the catalyst Ferrari needs to close the gap to Red Bull and Mercedes—not only in 2025, but well into the future.