Lewis Hamilton has made it clear that he’s fully committed to turning Ferrari into a championship-winning team, saying he “refuses” to end his career without securing a world title in red. Despite a tough first season with Ferrari that has yet to produce a single podium finish, Hamilton believes in the team’s potential and is taking proactive steps to help improve performance. He stressed that he’s not content with merely participating — he joined Ferrari to win and is determined to break the cycle of star drivers falling short with the team.
To help Ferrari make progress, Hamilton has been actively involved behind the scenes. Over recent weeks, he’s spent multiple days at the Maranello factory, where he’s held a series of high-level meetings with key decision-makers like chairman John Elkann, CEO Benedetto Vigna, team boss Fred Vasseur, and technical leaders. He has been sharing detailed feedback and proposals through documents and discussions, addressing both the current problems with the SF-25 and planning ahead for next season’s car.
Hamilton described how he’s tackled structural and technical issues, including the engine and suspension designs for 2026. He emphasized that his goal is to ensure lessons are learned from the SF-25’s underperformance and that Ferrari evolves accordingly. His hands-on approach also included participating in early development for the 2026 car and conducting extensive debriefs with engineers. He believes that only by questioning and challenging internal processes can the team unlock its true potential.
Looking at Ferrari’s history, Hamilton pointed out that many great drivers — like Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel, and Kimi Raikkonen — failed to add titles during their time at the team. He insists he doesn’t want to suffer the same fate and is doing everything possible to change that narrative. With his extensive experience at McLaren and Mercedes, he’s bringing a fresh perspective and believes that breaking away from Ferrari’s traditional methods could finally deliver success.
Ultimately, Hamilton sees Ferrari as a sleeping giant — a passionate and powerful organization that just needs better alignment and execution. He’s focused not just on car development but also on inspiring the people around him to push harder. Time is of the essence, he admits, especially as younger talents like Kimi Antonelli rise through the ranks. But with unity and commitment, Hamilton firmly believes Ferrari can return to championship glory — and he wants to be the one to make that happen.
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