Lewis Hamilton has expressed concerns about Ferrari’s performance ahead of the 2026 F1 season. Following a challenging weekend at the Qatar Grand Prix, Hamilton revealed he has numerous recommendations for improving the team’s performance. The competition saw Hamilton struggling significantly, finishing in 12th place, his lowest result of the season.
Challenges at the Qatar Grand Prix
Hamilton’s tumultuous weekend began with a failure to advance past the first part of Sprint Qualifying on Friday. He similarly struggled during Saturday’s qualifying session. The seven-time world champion remarked that driving the car felt incredibly difficult.
- Final race position: 12th
- Joint-worst finish of the season
Hamilton’s struggles underscore a disappointing first season with Ferrari, marking his first campaign without a podium finish. Since his entry into Formula 1 in 2007, he had placed in the top three in every season until now.
Hamilton’s Reflections and Future Hopes
In an interview with Sky Sports F1, Hamilton stated, “It definitely has been the most challenging year both in and out of the car.” He remains hopeful about making improvements for future races. “There’s literally no reason why we couldn’t fix those if we just put those into action,” he asserted.
Ferrari’s Development Strategy
The challenges facing Ferrari this season have been compounded by their decision to halt the development of their car early in April. Team principal Frederic Vasseur acknowledged that they underestimated the psychological impact of this decision on both the team and drivers.
- Development halted in April 2023
- McLaren’s early dominance influenced this decision
Vasseur recognized the difficulty of managing a team when they know no significant upgrades will come for the remainder of the season. Despite this, he remains confident in the decision to push for mechanical upgrades.
Performance Insights from Other Drivers
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc managed to finish eighth in the Qatar race after a tumultuous qualifying session. Vasseur noted that the team struggled with setup issues linked to the track conditions in Qatar. He pointed out that the narrow performance window means even a minor setup issue can lead to disastrous results, as seen in Hamilton’s case.
Looking Ahead to 2026
As the season approaches its conclusion, Hamilton’s remarks suggest he is already contemplating the next seasons. Although new regulations promise shifts in team standings, his focus remains on immediate performance improvements for Ferrari.
In summary, Hamilton’s clearly articulated thoughts emphasize the need for strategic adaptations from Ferrari as they prepare for the upcoming challenges of the 2026 F1 season.
