The early signs are unmistakable: Lewis Hamilton is finally starting to look at home in red – and at Ferrari, that’s half the battle won.
After a bruising debut season in 2025 that yielded no podiums and plenty of frustration, the seven-time world champion has come out swinging in 2026.
A strong start, highlighted by a podium finish in China, has injected fresh optimism into the Scuderia and puta spring in Hamilton’s – and team boss Fred Vasseur says it’s no coincidence.
For the Ferrari chief, the difference between Hamilton then and now is simple: integration.
“Honestly, it’s always much easier the second one, because you are part of the project,” Vasseur explained.
That sense of ownership has been key. Unlike last year – when Hamilton arrived to find a car already built and a team already in motion – this time he’s been embedded from the very beginning.
“From the beginning, he was in the simulator in the middle of 2025 when we started the project,” added Vasseur.
“He feels also a bit more involved in the project than he was one year ago. When he joined the team in January, the car was there.”
Now, the pieces are clicking into place – not just technically, but personally.
“He knows everybody a little bit more, the relationship is getting better and better. It’s also easier for him to deal with people and to work with everybody,” he explained.
Closing the gap, one step at a time
Hamilton’s renewed motivation notwithstanding, Ferrari still have work to do. Mercedes have come out of the gates flying in 2026, leaving the Italian outfit playing catch-up after two rounds.
But with Hamilton now fully embedded and firing, Vasseur sees a clear path forward – one built on steady progress rather than sudden leaps.
“Step by step, we have to do marginal gains because it’s like this that we will close the gap,” he said.
It’s a measured approach – but with Formula 1’s biggest star finally in sync with his team, Ferrari’s famous fighting spirit is starting to look a lot more ominous.
Read also: Hamilton mentally and physically ‘back to my best’ after China podium
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