Ferrari is going through a delicate period, and Pino Allievi believes Lewis Hamilton represents one of the unresolved issues facing Frederic Vasseur because of what he describes as a lack of clarity. The veteran Italian journalist analysed the situation during the latest FormulaPassion.it Q&A, focusing in particular on the Ferrari team principal and the dynamics surrounding the seven-time Formula 1 world champion.
Recent comments from Lewis Hamilton and Frederic Vasseur have at times appeared notably out of alignment, something that has already raised questions about Frederic Vasseur’s authority and Lewis Hamilton’s position within Ferrari. According to Pino Allievi, managing Lewis Hamilton was never going to be straightforward because Ferrari did not simply sign a racing driver, but one of the biggest personal brands in Formula 1.
Pino Allievi calls Lewis Hamilton a difficult brand to manage
“Lewis Hamilton is one of Frederic Vasseur’s unresolved problems because of a lack of clarity,” Pino Allievi said. “I’m told that Lewis Hamilton has a team of 18 people around him who work for him and that Lewis Hamilton has made demands on many aspects. But Frederic Vasseur knew that he was not bringing home just a driver, but a brand with a team behind him that looks after everything from his clothing to his hairstyle.”
Pino Allievi also claimed that this has created another area of friction inside Ferrari, pointing in particular to Lewis Hamilton’s personal style and the clothing agreements that exist within the team.
“This is another reason for friction inside Ferrari because Lewis Hamilton dresses as he wants when there are agreements to wear certain clothing, and that is already a huge limitation. Just imagine how Enzo Ferrari would have reacted to Lewis Hamilton wearing a coat with the F40 in the middle of summer and things like that. But this is Lewis Hamilton. In fact, at Mercedes, when Lewis Hamilton left, they breathed a sigh of relief.”
Pino Allievi praises Lewis Hamilton’s 2026 performance
Despite those criticisms, Pino Allievi also highlighted the experience and performance Lewis Hamilton has brought to Maranello. After a difficult first year, the British driver has emerged as one of the standout performers of 2026 in Pino Allievi’s view.
“Lewis Hamilton brought enormous experience to Ferrari. He suffered for a year, but this year he is going incredibly well. If I had to say what the surprises of 2026 are, there are clearly two: Kimi Antonelli, for obvious reasons, and then Lewis Hamilton. Nobody would have bet on Lewis Hamilton going this strongly.”
The discussion also feeds into the broader debate over the internal relationship between Ferrari’s drivers, management and technical structure, which has become increasingly important as the team looks ahead to its longer-term direction. Recent questions over Ferrari’s communication and internal management have added further attention to how the Scuderia operates away from the track.
Lewis Hamilton’s influence on Ferrari questioned
Pino Allievi was more sceptical about the suggestion that Lewis Hamilton has transformed Ferrari. While accepting that a driver with such extensive Formula 1 experience will naturally contribute ideas and preferences, the Italian journalist does not believe the SF-26’s performance should be attributed primarily to the British driver’s technical input.
“Lewis Hamilton has celebrated himself for transforming the team. I don’t believe that, but he will certainly have made his contribution. Someone who has been racing for a lifetime is obviously going to bring ideas to Ferrari. They will have been welcome and very well received. Lewis Hamilton will have explained that he likes to drive in a certain way and that he does not like engine braking because it affects him on corner entry.”
Pino Allievi described these as the fine details every driver develops together with their engineers rather than evidence that the car’s overall competitiveness comes directly from one driver’s suggestions.
“I don’t believe the car is fast because Lewis Hamilton’s suggestions are behind it. The car is fast because Loïc Serra has a team of excellent technicians around him and Ferrari has produced an excellent car this year. If Ferrari has often failed to win and has suffered some embarrassing results, it is only because the car has not been managed on track with the same perfection shown by other teams.”
That distinction remains central to the debate around Ferrari’s current situation. Lewis Hamilton’s contribution and experience are acknowledged, but Pino Allievi’s assessment places the larger responsibility on the organisation surrounding the car and the way Ferrari manages its opportunities, rather than on any single individual. The uncertainty around leadership also continues to make Frederic Vasseur’s long-term Ferrari future an important part of the wider discussion.
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