Even if he doesn’t like it, Lewis Hamilton is moving more and more in the direction of Charles Leclerc – Briton enthusiastic after Friday practice at Silverstone
Lewis Hamilton’s adjustment to Ferrari continues to be a central topic in the Formula 1 paddock. After initial difficulties, the seven-time world champion seems to be increasingly comfortable with the oversteering setup of teammate Charles Leclerc – even if it doesn’t suit his natural driving style.
According to Ferrari’s deputy team boss Jerome D’Ambrosio, this approach is likely to remain in place until the end of the season: “At the moment, it’s definitely the case that the oversteering setup is closest to the maximum potential of the car,” said the Belgian at the Grand Prix in Silverstone.
“Charles has been driving with this setup for a few races now, and it has worked well for him. Lewis has recently gone in this direction too – and is also making it work for himself.“
Ultimately, this is a result of the current regulations: ”We are seeing very nervous steering behavior across the board. This is also due to the limitations of the technical regulations. The cars are simply nervous – and the drivers have to be able to deal with that to a certain extent.”
In fact, Hamilton himself said during the race weekend in Spielberg that his teammate’s setup offered too much oversteer for his liking, but that he was forced to move in that direction. This does not seem to be a permanent solution, but there is currently no way around it. “If you want to get the most out of the car, you have to go with it,” said D’Ambrosio.
Will 2026 suit Hamilton better?
At the same time, Hamilton is already working intensively on the long-term perspective – the car for the 2026 season. He wants to incorporate his ideas more strongly there. The collaboration with former Mercedes engineer Loic Serra, who moved to Ferrari with him, plays a particularly important role in this.
“Loic knows Lewis very well, which of course helps with communication,” explains D’Ambrosio. “But you have to be careful how you interpret that. The car isn’t built around a driver, but to get the maximum performance out of it – more downforce, more efficiency. It’s only in the second phase that we start fine-tuning to make the drivers feel comfortable.“
It’s completely normal – and also desirable – that Hamilton is trying to have a greater say in the 2026 concept. ”Of course we listen to our drivers – both of them,” emphasizes the deputy team principal with a smile.
“We often see in the meetings in Maranello that their ideas overlap considerably – conceptually, both know pretty much exactly what they need. We discuss things openly with both of them several times a year and then try to translate these needs into performance.”
The drivers’ influence on the development of a completely new car is not unlimited, but it is by no means insignificant: “There are objective parameters, of course – you want to build the fastest car. But within these specifications, there is room for maneuver that we can use to give the drivers the tools they need to adapt the car to their style. It’s a balance.”
Ferrari: There isn’t always a perfect car
It comes as no surprise that Lewis Hamilton is in close contact with the development team – especially since Ferrari signed him not only for his qualities on the track, but also for his wealth of experience. “Lewis brings a tremendous amount of know-how to the table, especially when it comes to long-term strategy,” emphasizes D’Ambrosio. “That’s a huge asset for us.”
Nevertheless, the question remains as to how long Hamilton can come to terms with a setup that doesn’t really suit him. His first races in red were marked by adjustments, experiments, and occasional frustration. In Spielberg, Hamilton sounded slightly resigned: “It’s not my favorite balance, but that’s the fastest the car goes.”
For D’Ambrosio, that’s part of the job: “It’s not always about having a car that feels perfect right away. It’s about getting the most out of what you have. And Lewis is one of the best at that.”
The Belgian sees Ferrari’s two top-class drivers as a major strength: “We are fortunate to have two drivers who know exactly what they want – and what makes a car fast. And in the end, that’s what counts.” Even if the paths to get there may differ.
Satisfaction after the start of practice
Ferrari was among the frontrunners in Friday’s practice at Silverstone. Hamilton finished third, three tenths of a second behind Lando Norris’ fastest time, while teammate Charles Leclerc was once again a little faster and took second place.
“It was a really good day,” Hamilton beamed after his home debut. “Red Bull and McLaren had an upgrade today. The fact that we can still compete even though they’ve taken a step forward today is really positive,” he praised, confirming the improved feeling with the SF-25.
“I’m making great progress with the car and feel much more comfortable. I now have a better understanding of what the car needs,” he nodded. “I don’t think we were where we wanted to be in FT2. We definitely had a bit more to fight for in FP2, but we know what changes we need to make for the next session.”
He says that he and Ferrari can therefore dream of a strong weekend. But: “Putting it all together and getting the most out of it is another matter entirely.”
“But I’ll prepare as best I can to make sure we get the best result,” said the Briton. “I think it might rain tomorrow – and on Sunday too. So I’ll do my best to be prepared for that.”
