Ferrari want to ‘dispel’ myths about Lewis Hamilton’s actions behind the scenes in Maranello

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Lewis Hamilton retains the full support of Ferrari ahead of the 2026 F1 season, as the seven-time champion bids to bounce back from his nightmare first year in Maranello.

The 41-year-old realised his childhood dream of driving for the Scuderia last season. Yet his move to Maranello soon proved to be anything but a dream, as the limitations of the SF-25 ruined his year and team principal Fred Vasseur quickly focused on the 2026 F1 regulations.

Vasseur stopped Ferrari developing their 2025 F1 car in April to prioritise their allotted wind tunnel hours on their 2026 challenger. The only major update that Ferrari produced in 2025 also failed to pay off, as a rear suspension update failed to fix the SF-25’s ride height issues.

All of the problems that Ferrari faced in 2025 culminated in the Scuderia being the only one of F1’s top four teams without a Grand Prix win. Hamilton also failed to score a single Grand Prix podium in a season for the first time in his career, although Charles Leclerc made seven.

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Ferrari want to ‘dispel’ myths about Lewis Hamilton’s behaviour within the team

According to FunoAnalisiTecnica, Ferrari and Hamilton now have a ‘clear’ shared goal for the 2026 season of giving their all to overcoming the myths that his woes in 2025 created. Given his plight, it has often been suggested that Hamilton could retire from F1 at the end of 2026.

Ferrari also hope to ‘dispel’ a ‘completely unfounded’ myth about Hamilton’s actions behind the scenes in Maranello. The Briton’s behaviour within the team has come into question, yet it is considered a ploy created under the ‘shadow’ that Haas ace Oliver Bearman has caused.

Bearman’s brilliant rookie season for Haas in 2025 has put the Briton right at the front of the queue to replace his compatriot when Hamilton calls time on his Ferrari career. But while he is in line for a seat one day, Ferrari are committed to helping Hamilton recover during 2026.

In December, former Williams driver Ralf Schumacher claimed he has “heard” that Hamilton “hardly ever” uses Ferrari’s simulator, with Leclerc forced to fulfil the duties that the Briton will not. But this is considered wildly inaccurate, as Hamilton does not delegate any burden.

Oliver Bearman is at the front of the queue to replace Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari… one day

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Bearman’s results with Haas during the first season of his two-year loan deal from Ferrari in 2025 only offered more fuel to further the myths about Hamilton’s struggles during his first term in red. So, while Bearman is imprinted on Ferrari’s future, the Scuderia are in no rush.

The focus in Maranello right now is instead on putting the finishing touches on a car that the pride of Italy hope will allow Hamilton to display his talents again. Ferrari are building three different sidepod concepts for the start of 2026, as they plot their early development ideas.

But if Ferrari’s car for the 2026 F1 regulations proves to be another dud, then the questions that have grown ever larger about Hamilton’s future in F1 will only intensify further. Having just turned 41 at the start of January, he will not want to endure years and years of misery.