Hamilton working to instill 2026 Ferrari with ‘some of my DNA’

Lewis Hamilton says he is actively working to influence the development of Ferrari’s crucial 2026 car, aiming to infuse it with elements tailored to his driving style.

Hamilton has spent the first half of his debut season with the Scuderia adapting to the characteristics of a car that his teammate Charles Leclerc is well acquainted with.

However, the seven-time world champion has recently aligned his setup with that of the Monegasque, a move that has coincided with improved performances in the last two races.

But Hamilton is determined to ensure the 2026 car reflects his preferences, a direction that Leclerc believes is unnecessary given the team’s adaptability.

“We have lots of different tools and things to change the ways in which we can set the car up,” Hamilton told reporters at Silverstone.

“Obviously, Charles has been here for a long time, and he’s been a part of evolving, developing this car. He’s very accustomed to it.”

Hamilton admitted that his exploration of alternative setups proved challenging.

“I’ve tried all the other directions that should work, but they just don’t for whatever reason.

“I’ve slowly migrated to the place where Charles does run the car. Last week [in Austria] was the closest that I’ve been, and our pace was the closest it’s ever been.”

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Despite the improved pace, the 40-year-old F1 veteran remains dissatisfied with the current car’s handling.

“So it is still tough. It’s a tough balance to drive and it’s not a comfortable one. It’s not one that I want to have in future.

“So I’m working with Loic [Serra] and with all the guys at the factory to make sure that the next car will have naturally some of my DNA in it.

“And hopefully we’ll be able to get some of the characteristics that I’m hoping to have in it for next year.”

Queried on the topic of Ferrari developing its 2026 contender to better suit Hamilton’s demands, Leclerc downplayed such an approach.

“Within the team, we’ve got all the tools to adapt a car to my way in terms of driving style or to Lewis’ style,” Leclerc said.

“So I don’t think that’s the problem, and I just want the fastest car possible next year. That’s exactly what Lewis wants, and then wherever we are next year, I’ll set up the car in a way that I like, and Lewis will do just the same.”

Improved Chemistry With Adami

In addition to slowly coming to grips with Ferrari’s SF-25, Hamilton also credited better synergy with his race engineer Riccardo Adami for his improvements, despite several recent on-air frustrations with Ferrari’s strategy calls.

“I’m pleased with the progress,” he said. “I’m really pleased with the direction. My engineer and I have been really gelling a lot better in terms of how we set the car up. I was much happier in the car.”

Despite his recent form boost, Hamilton made it clear that following Leclerc’s set-up is a temporary compromise, not a long-term solution.

He reiterated that comfort and confidence in the car are essential to his performance – and that shaping the next generation of Ferrari's Formula 1 machines around his needs is a critical priority, while Leclerc’s confidence in the team’s flexibility highlights Ferrari’s collaborative environment.

With both drivers aiming for a championship-contending car, the Scuderia faces the challenge of balancing their inputs to deliver a machine capable of challenging for the title in 2026.

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