One of Ferrari’s main priorities during the 2025-2026 winter break is supporting Lewis Hamilton as he continues to adjust to life at the Scuderia following his high-profile move from Mercedes. The 2025 Formula 1 season proved to be a difficult campaign for both Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari, with the seven-time world champion struggling to extract the performance he is accustomed to and the Italian team falling behind its rivals under team principal Fred Vasseur’s management.
Lewis Hamilton endured a campaign in which he never felt fully at ease in the Ferrari SF-25. The car’s handling characteristics and the nuances of Ferrari’s design philosophy created challenges that highlighted weaknesses he had already been experiencing with his final Mercedes cars. Journalist Mark Hughes, who closely analyzed Hamilton’s performance during the ground-effect era, suggested that one specific element of Ferrari’s car philosophy – the heavy reliance on engine braking – intensified the difficulties for Hamilton, contrasting sharply with how Charles Leclerc has adapted to the same systems over the past several seasons.
Lewis Hamilton struggling with ‘alien’ driving conditions at Ferrari
Mark Hughes reflected on Lewis Hamilton’s adjustment period in the 2025 season during an appearance on The Race F1 Podcast, explaining that Lewis Hamilton’s driving style, which had been honed over many years at Mercedes, did not naturally align with the SF-25’s setup. Hughes noted that Lewis Hamilton has always employed an aggressive braking technique, preferring to brake late and manipulate the car’s front end for optimal rotation. This approach, he observed, is hindered by the way Ferrari cars utilize engine braking to aid corner entry and rotation, a method Charles Leclerc has seamlessly adapted to over his years with the Scuderia.
According to Hughes, the muscle memory that Lewis Hamilton developed over nearly two decades in Formula 1 makes adjusting to Ferrari’s engine braking “very alien” for the 40-year-old driver. While a younger Lewis Hamilton in his mid-20s might have adapted more quickly, the combination of ingrained habits and the technical characteristics of the Ferrari car created an additional challenge, compounding the difficulties he was already facing with the ground-effect generation of F1 cars.
Ferrari exploring solutions to aid Hamilton’s adaptation
As part of their preparations for the 2026 season, Ferrari are working on strategies to help Lewis Hamilton regain confidence and maximize his performance in a car that is still very much designed around Charles Leclerc’s driving style. One area of focus is the steering wheel, with Ferrari reportedly developing a new interface for 2026 that closely resembles the one the Briton used at Mercedes. The idea is to allow him to make rapid adjustments and take split-second decisions more intuitively, improving his overall comfort in the cockpit.
While this adjustment may not directly resolve the challenges posed by engine braking, it is expected to provide Lewis Hamilton with the tools to better manage the car in real time, particularly during complex cornering situations. The 2026 regulations, with their extensive changes to aerodynamics, power units, and chassis design, provide Ferrari with an opportunity to build a car that better accommodates both of their star drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
Power units set to be the key differentiator in 2026
Beyond driver adaptation, the 2026 season will also be defined by Formula 1’s new power unit regulations, with a 50/50 split between electrical and combustion power and the introduction of sustainable fuels. Ferrari have already raised concerns with the FIA after learning that Mercedes and Red Bull may have identified loopholes in the rules. These potential “compression tricks” could give their rivals a significant advantage early in the season, leaving Ferrari playing catch-up.
To address this, Ferrari are reportedly developing innovative solutions to pass the FIA’s compliance checks while maximizing performance. The team hopes that these technical adjustments will allow them to remain competitive from the first race of the 2026 season, ensuring that both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton can fight near the front of the grid.
Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond
Ferrari understand that the 2026 winter break is not only a time to refine technical solutions but also an opportunity to strengthen the relationship between Lewis Hamilton and the team. With Charles Leclerc’s proven adaptability and the Briton’s extensive experience, Ferrari aim to create a car that allows both drivers to extract maximum performance while minimizing the challenges of adapting to different driving styles. Success in 2026 will be critical not just for championship ambitions but also for retaining their two top drivers for the 2027 season and beyond.
Ferrari are therefore using the off-season to address both technical and human factors, recognizing that helping Lewis Hamilton fully adjust is as important as developing a competitive power unit. By aligning their car development with the strengths of both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, the Scuderia hopes to convert 2026 into a season of progress and position themselves as genuine contenders in the new era of Formula 1.
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