Hamilton sees tyre understanding as a performance opportunity for Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton believes Ferrari could gain substantial performance by understanding Pirelli’s tyres better. He told media, including RacingNews365, that tyres can deliver a great deal when they work properly and that tyre science is an area Ferrari could improve.

In 2026, that task is complicated by high tyre pressures. Pirelli has raised pressures, particularly at the rear, to protect the tyres if straight-line mode fails and the active aero does not open. The cars are designed for lower downforce on the straights, yet already exceed the load expectations Pirelli used when designing the tyres. High pressures have also made wear and degradation less important than in recent seasons, with the soft tyre the standout race choice in recent Azerbaijan and Singapore rounds.

Hamilton also pointed to weekend execution. He said Ferrari was happy with the car’s development but needed a clean weekend from the outset to build confidence in the team and car before executing. He acknowledged that was easier said than done and said Ferrari was working to do better.