Lewis Hamilton urges Ferrari to adopt Red Bull-style operational changes under Laurent Mekies
Lewis Hamilton has reportedly called for urgent changes at Ferrari if the team wants to regain its competitive edge and achieve long-term success in Formula 1. Following the Singapore Grand Prix, the seven-time world champion emphasized on social media and in internal team meetings at Maranello that Ferrari must implement structural improvements to match the stature of a top-tier F1 team.
While Hamilton has acknowledged that Ferrari are showing progress, he stressed that incremental improvements are insufficient for a team with championship aspirations. Sources indicate that Fred Vasseur’s squad is approaching a winless season and faces the risk of slipping out of the top three in the Formula 1 constructors’ championship. Reports claim that Hamilton has submitted a detailed document to Ferrari’s leadership outlining essential operational enhancements and strategic adjustments based on observations from multiple race weekends.
Driver feedback must be prioritized at Ferrari, says Hamilton
According to FUnoAnalisiTecnica, the Briton’s recommendations were carefully considered and aimed at highlighting a sensitive yet critical aspect of Ferrari’s operations. Prior to the Austin Grand Prix, he reportedly held meetings with key stakeholders to discuss actionable corrections that the team must adopt to improve race performance.
One of Lewis Hamilton’s central points is the need to place greater emphasis on driver feedback. He believes that decisions at Ferrari have been overly reliant on data and simulations, rather than fully incorporating the insights of drivers on track conditions and car behavior. Lewis Hamilton has reportedly argued that integrating driver input into operational decision-making is an essential step toward unlocking the full potential of the SF-25.
Although Lewis Hamilton has been outperformed by teammate Charles Leclerc in the 2025 season, his status as the most successful F1 driver in history provides him with a unique authority within Ferrari. Sources suggest that he intends to leverage this standing to ensure that his recommendations are seriously considered in shaping team strategy and car development.
Laurent Mekies’ approach at Red Bull serves as a blueprint
Lewis Hamilton appears to be inspired by operational changes recently introduced at Red Bull following Laurent Mekies’ replacement of Christian Horner. Reports from Red Bull insiders indicate that Mekies encouraged the team to balance simulation data with practical driver input. Max Verstappen, who initially felt his feedback was not being fully considered, has reportedly seen his observations increasingly guide both mechanical and strategic decisions. This has enabled Red Bull to take calculated risks on setup and strategy, contributing to recent race wins and closing the gap to Ferrari in the 2025 standings.
In contrast, Ferrari’s approach has been criticized as overly conservative and slow to respond to trackside realities. The Briton’s push for a Mekies-style operational philosophy could enable Ferrari to make quicker, data-informed yet driver-guided decisions, potentially enhancing performance and competitiveness across the remaining races of the season.
Ultimately, Lewis Hamilton’s advocacy for greater weight on driver input highlights a growing internal push to modernize Ferrari’s approach.
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