Lewis Hamilton urged to take cues from Max Verstappen as Ferrari seek a new leadership tone
Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton finds himself facing a pivotal moment in his debut era with Ferrari, as pressure builds for stronger leadership from the Scuderia’s driver line-up. After a difficult first season in red, several voices within the paddock have suggested that Lewis Hamilton may need to study the communication style of long-time rival Max Verstappen if he wants to guide Ferrari toward a genuine championship resurgence.
The 2025 campaign marked unfamiliar territory for Lewis Hamilton. For the first time in his career, he completed a season without a single podium finish, ending his year 267 points adrift of world champion Lando Norris and failing to break into the top seven across the final five Grands Prix. The statistics painted a stark picture: Ferrari could not offer Hamilton or Charles Leclerc the competitive package they were promised, and the frustration grew visibly as the year progressed.
Team principal Frédéric Vasseur has repeatedly encouraged both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to push the team internally, to demand higher standards in car development and operational consistency. Yet Ferrari chairman John Elkann reportedly felt that the pair’s increasingly pessimistic public comments after races—especially following the São Paulo Grand Prix—were feeding negativity rather than inspiring improvement.
Former Formula 1 driver Robert Doornbos and broadcaster Chris McHardy have now weighed in, offering their own perspective on what Ferrari’s new superstar signing needs to change if he wants to transform Ferrari’s culture.
Doornbos believes Lewis Hamilton should learn from Max Verstappen’s motivational approach
Speaking on The Pit Talk podcast, Robert Doornbos argued that Lewis Hamilton must adopt a more constructive and motivational tone—similar to the communication style that Max Verstappen uses at Red Bull Racing. Doornbos recalled that Ferrari had effectively written off their 2025 challenger as early as April, with Frederic Vasseur openly acknowledging that the car would not meet expectations. Adding Lewis Hamilton to a team that had already cast aside hopes for the season placed the Briton in a delicate position, and according to Doornbos, his public remarks about not looking forward to 2026 only intensified the atmosphere of doubt within Maranello.
Doornbos suggested that the British driver should instead be focusing on energizing the team for the next regulation cycle, reminding the staff that 2026 represents a fresh start. He also commented on Lewis Hamilton’s radio exchanges throughout the year, describing the chemistry between Hamilton and his race engineer as one of the least harmonious on the grid. In his view, the seven-time F1 world champion needed to deliver more positive reinforcement over team radio, especially given Ferrari’s internal struggles.
Doornbos contrasted this with Max Verstappen’s behaviour at Red Bull, explaining that Verstappen consistently acknowledges his mechanics and engineers on the radio, even during difficult races. While Verstappen does express frustration when things go wrong, Doornbos emphasized that the Dutchman still strikes a balance by ensuring his team feels appreciated—a dynamic he believes Ferrari currently lacks.
Media pen behaviour raises further questions about Lewis Hamilton’s mindset
Broadcaster Chris McHardy later recounted his interaction with Lewis Hamilton in the media pen after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Although Hamilton warmly congratulated Lando Norris with a hug, McHardy explained that Hamilton appeared emotionally drained when he turned to address journalists. His replies reportedly became short and muted, often reduced to one- or two-word answers.
When asked to comment further on Lando Norris’s championship win, Lewis Hamilton reportedly replied with minimal enthusiasm, saying only that Lando Norris deserved the title and that he simply wanted to leave the paddock. McHardy described the atmosphere as unusually flat for a driver of Hamilton’s stature and experience.
Interestingly, Lewis Hamilton’s tone contrasted with his team-radio message at the end of the race, where he thanked Ferrari for their efforts during his turbulent debut season. Yet, as McHardy noted, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc had precious few reasons to celebrate throughout the year, and the emotional toll of constant underperformance was evident.
Ferrari look ahead to 2026 as Fred Vasseur and Loic Serra attempt to reset the culture
With the winter break approaching, Frederic Vasseur and technical figure Loïc Serra now have the opportunity to reshape Ferrari’s internal atmosphere before the next major rule overhaul. The team knows that both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc need a more competitive car—and a more unified technical direction—if Ferrari are to re-establish themselves as title contenders in the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Yet commentators believe that Lewis Hamilton may also need to embrace a more proactive leadership style. Drawing inspiration from Max Verstappen’s constructive communication could, according to figures like Doornbos, help Ferrari rediscover the energy and confidence required to move forward. Whether Lewis Hamilton adapts his approach may prove decisive in determining whether Ferrari’s ambitious project succeeds or falters in the next era of Formula 1.
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