Racing
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Lewis Hamilton says he helped shape Ferrari’s SF-26 and is now working daily with engineers at the factory to refine it as the team pushes development early in 2026. The seven-time champion describes a hands-on role with the Scuderia as it chases Mercedes in the standings. Charles Leclerc is part of the same push as both drivers align on upgrades and priorities for the car.
Hamilton’s direct technical work links into Ferrari’s design loop. He holds regular meetings with aero chief Diego Tondi, feeding back on balance and efficiency targets. He spent time in the simulator last year to map how the first SF-26 concepts behaved and flagged traits he wanted addressed for this season. He also shared ideas taken from rival cars, using what he learned fighting them on track to inform Ferrari’s approach to packaging, load distribution, and the way the car rides curbs.
The 2026 rules reset has pushed teams to focus on pure car performance. Early races have turned into a fresh development contest across the grid. Ferrari has started fast and sits second in the Constructors’ standings. The gap to Mercedes is clear, but the team sees scope to close it with a stream of upgrades already in the pipeline. The factory group in Maranello is driving that effort as track feedback tightens the loop between simulations and real runs.
Hamilton says he has adapted his working style after a hard 2025. He learned Ferrari’s tools and culture and adjusted how he reports issues and requests changes. Engineers describe a smoother flow of information across departments as he blends his approach with the team’s processes. He now joins debriefs that pull in aero, vehicle dynamics, and race operations, so that set-up requests line up with what the design office can deliver in coming sprints.
The collaboration with Leclerc is part of that change. Both drivers spend time at the factory to select which areas get resources first and which items move to later phases. They have aligned on priority weaknesses in the SF-26. That includes low-speed traction and how the car uses its tires over longer runs. They also want a sharper front end in medium-speed corners without losing rear stability on entry. The goal is to improve lap time without creating new trade-offs that slow race pace.
Early signs point to progress. Hamilton returned to the podium in China, which matched what Ferrari’s models suggested for that layout. The team sees growing confidence on the pit wall and in the bays as the car responds to set-up changes in line with the numbers. Internal energy is strong, with engineers rotating through correlation tasks that track every update from CAD to wind tunnel to track. That discipline has helped Ferrari hit its upgrade targets on schedule.
Hamilton says his mindset has shifted since last year. He has moved past frustration and reset his focus on consistent execution. He has raised the level of his physical and mental work and wants to keep performance stable across a long season. The message inside the team is to keep the loop tight, keep upgrades coming, and hold standards on error-free weekends.
Ferrari plans to keep refining the SF-26 as the calendar moves into mixed circuits. Hamilton’s feedback will continue to shape the update list, with Tondi’s group steering concepts that protect the car’s efficiency while unlocking more grip. Leclerc’s input on tire behavior will guide how those parts are deployed at race weekends. The approach remains factory-led and data-driven, with both drivers embedded in the process.
Ferrari has ground to make up to catch Mercedes, but its structure around the SF-26 is clearer than a year ago. Hamilton’s hands-on role, his fit within the team’s methods, and a steady upgrade path define the early phase of this push. The next steps depend on turning that factory work into lap time that holds up from qualifying to the flag.