Hamilton vows to keep pushing Ferrari for change

Lewis Hamilton says his effort to reshape Ferrari will continue for as long as he remains at the team. “I've pushed for so many changes, and I'm going to be pushing for more,” he told media including RacingNews365.

Asked whether Charles Leclerc’s status as a Ferrari Driver Academy graduate affected his ability to make changes, Hamilton said he had always expected the challenge. He pointed to Leclerc’s eight years with Ferrari and nine wins for the team, and said he had worked to build their relationship, bridge the gap and ensure they could work harmoniously.

Ferrari was also dealing with tension between the drivers: their battle in Mexico City cost the team a likely one-two finish.

Hamilton described himself as outspoken and said he had to push the team, but also needed others to push him to improve. He framed winning as a collective effort, with everyone working at the same pace and strength.

That work includes the 2026 car. Hamilton said he was working with Ferrari’s heads of aerodynamics and vehicle dynamics to preserve its strengths and improve details. He also hopes the power-unit department can deliver.

Ferrari last won the drivers’ title in 2007, Hamilton’s rookie season, when Kimi Raikkonen took the crown; its last constructors’ title came in 2008. Restoring the Scuderia to title-winning form was one attraction of Hamilton’s move from Mercedes.

After going without a podium in his first Ferrari season, Hamilton was a factor in the 2026 title race until the summer break, then fell out of contention. With three rounds remaining in 2026, he was fourth, one point behind George Russell and 17 points behind Max Verstappen. Looking ahead to 2027, he believes Ferrari can fight for the championship.