Dutch GP: Lewis Hamilton on adapting to Ferrari, 2026 regulations, and managing pressure
During the media day of the Dutch Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton answered several questions about his first season with Ferrari, touching on topics ranging from technical adaptation to expectations for the upcoming 2026 regulations. The seven-time world champion was candid, alternating realism with determination.
When asked about improvements in car management, Hamilton highlighted the progress made by the team and his own adaptation efforts: “I think we have made a lot of progress, and I believe we are moving in the right direction. The new components introduced in Spa are allowing us to extract performance, little by little, race after race. I hope this weekend even more.”
Lewis Hamilton’s progress with the Ferrari SF-25 and technical adaptation
Reflection on the new 2026 cars, which are already generating debate among the FIA and drivers, was inevitable. However, the Briton tempered expectations: “In this sport, nobody is ever fully satisfied. It could be fantastic, or it might not be. We will see,” he said realistically.
Following the challenging weekend in Budapest, the British driver discussed the difficulties experienced in the first part of the championship: “I feel determined and motivated. We will work hard, keep our heads down, and try to change some aspects of our approach. There has been a lot of pressure, and it hasn’t been the most enjoyable start to the season, but we must remember that we love what we do and find a bit of fun again.”
Integrating with Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton also spoke about his integration process with Ferrari: “I believe my approach has been to adapt as much as possible to how they work, rather than saying ‘you have to change everything.’ Understanding how they like to work and bringing my experience to make everything even better. It is certainly a fine line to find.”
Managing pressure in Maranello
Finally, he addressed the topic of pressure, explaining the complexity of his new role at Maranello: “Ultimately, it comes from trying to have everything under control: the workload, new partners, photoshoots, integrating into a very large team. And then there’s the fact that Ferrari is the biggest brand in our sport. The combination of all this has been a lot to handle.”
Lewis Hamilton arrives at Zandvoort with a clear awareness of the challenges ahead, but also with the determination to seize every opportunity to grow alongside Ferrari, in a process of adaptation that requires patience and consistency.
Leave a Reply