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Ferrari are giving Lewis Hamilton more freedom with their car in the 2026 Formula 1 season, but his demands have seemed to displease his team boss.
The seven-time champion endured a frustrating first season in Maranello in 2025, scoring no podiums for the first time in a calendar year. Hamilton ‘resented’ his first year at Ferrari due to his little influence over the car.
The 41-year-old had been demanding changes from his team behind the scenes, sending private documents detailing his recommendations. They fell on deaf ears in 2025, but in 2026, Ferrari are listening to Hamilton’s demands and intends to make the SF-26 more predictable.
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It is something that the Brit and teammate Charles Leclerc had been calling for after going winless in 2025. With a more comfortable machine behind him, and with the 2026 F1 regulations coming into effect, it could be what Hamilton needs to perform.
Hamilton has finally found a ‘comfortable’ driving style after a year with Ferrari, which suggests that his demands are working. However, there is gossip that his wishes have not been received well by team principal Fred Vasseur.
Lewis Hamilton’s demands for Ferrari’s handling have left Fred Vasseur ‘totally dissatisfied’
Speaking via F1-Insider, journalist Ralf Bach discussed how Leclerc is still ahead of Hamilton at Ferrari and he is much more comfortable in the car. Despite this, the Brit is ‘demanding’ that the team responds to him with its handling, which is said to have left Vasseur ‘totally dissatisfied’.
“Not this time, but during the last test in Barcelona, they said that Leclerc just gets on really well with the Ferrari, that he drives very harmoniously, hardly makes any driving mistakes, really is at one with the car right from the start,” said Bach.
“Whereas with Hamilton, it’s a continuation of last year, he brakes too late, he doesn’t know exactly when to brake, how to accelerate.
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“So there’s this harmony with the car, and when I look at the times, whether it’s test drives or Leclerc, it’s just those three, four, five tenths, for whatever reason.
“I assume that one drives in the morning and the track isn’t as fast, the other in the afternoon, but somehow the average is always three or four tenths faster than Hamilton.
“That goes so it’s going in the same direction as last year, and then of course you hear a bit of gossip behind the scenes that Fred Vasseur, the team boss, is totally dissatisfied with Lewis because he’s demanding that Ferrari respond to him regarding the car’s handling.”
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Will 2026 be Lewis Hamilton’s last in Formula 1?
Hamilton will be working extensively behind the scenes to adapt to the SF-26 and the new regulations. He will be looking to put last year’s nightmare behind him and try to fight for his eighth world championship.
However, Ferrari’s SF-26 setup suits Leclerc more than Hamilton, showing that the Monegasque driver will remain a tough rival to beat in 2026.
Alex Albon thinks the 2026 rules will suit Hamilton the most, which he and the Tifosi will hope is true. Speculation has been growing that this season could be his last in F1, with his contract at Ferrari running down.
If he cannot compete in 2026, it could be that the 41-year-old decides to walk away from the sport at the end of the season. Hamilton and Ferrari will be under immense pressure to deliver a title to their loyal fans.
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