Lewis Hamilton has pledged to go above and beyond in his efforts to help Ferrari return to championship-winning form. Despite his celebrated move from Mercedes, the seven-time world champion has yet to make a podium appearance with Ferrari, aside from a sprint race win in China. As the team prepares for the Belgian Grand Prix, Hamilton emphasized the need for significant changes to end Ferrari’s 18-year title drought. He acknowledged the team’s immense potential but highlighted inefficiencies within the organization as barriers to success. Hamilton made it clear that he is determined not to be another high-profile driver who fails to win a title with Ferrari.
To contribute meaningfully to Ferrari’s transformation, Hamilton has been actively challenging internal processes and decision-making structures. Drawing from his past experiences with McLaren and Mercedes, he is pushing Ferrari to reevaluate their established approaches. He noted that sometimes success requires taking a different path and praised the team’s willingness to respond positively to his input. Hamilton is focused on motivating key figures within the organization to drive improvement and innovation, showing his commitment to influencing Ferrari’s culture and technical direction.
Hamilton has taken a hands-on role, writing and presenting detailed documents to Ferrari’s top brass and engineers, outlining specific areas for improvement. He’s met with Ferrari president John Elkann, CEO Benedetto Vigna, and team principal Fred Vasseur, among others, to discuss current car issues and the team’s future direction. These meetings have addressed both immediate problems and long-term goals, including aspects of next year’s engine and suspension. Hamilton’s goal is to align the entire team around a shared vision for consistent progress and competitiveness.
As part of their development efforts, Ferrari arrives in Belgium with a new rear suspension system that allows for lower ride heights, aimed at improving overall car performance. Hamilton is optimistic but cautious, noting that while simulation testing didn’t show dramatic gains, real-world testing at Spa will provide clearer results. He acknowledged that while Ferrari’s upgrade schedule has been slower compared to rivals like Red Bull and Mercedes, the arrival of new parts signals that the factory is making a serious push forward.
Ultimately, Hamilton expressed satisfaction with the recent developments and remains hopeful that continued upgrades and internal changes will eventually pay off. He sees the introduction of new components, like the rear suspension, as evidence that the team is listening and working hard to improve. While it may take time to see significant results, Hamilton is confident that Ferrari is on the right path — and he is fully committed to leading the charge to return the iconic team to its former glory.
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