Fred Vasseur says Lewis Hamilton was ‘the origin’ of key 2026 Ferrari design choices

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Lewis Hamilton feels more motivated at Ferrari this year because he played a key role in the development of the car, team principal Fred Vasseur has said.

Hamilton, who failed to score a podium during his first season with Ferrari, repeatedly made the point last year that he hadn’t been involved in the design of the SF-25, driven by Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz.

But the seven-time world champion has looked revitalised at the start of 2026. While it’s partly a reflection of Ferrari’s progress, Hamilton has scored 41 points in the opening three rounds compared to just three last year.

Is David Coulthard right? Are F1’s best drivers being held back by the new regulations?

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Lewis Hamilton was there ‘at the beginning’ with Ferrari’s 2026 car

In an interview with The Race, Vasseur explained that it was demoralising for Hamilton to join a team where he couldn’t have an input into car design. He had been with Mercedes for 12 straight seasons.

But when they were developing the SF-26 midway through last year, they sought Hamilton’s advice on areas like the car’s suspension. Now the 41-year-old feels like a leader.

The regulation changes have also fundamentally altered the car’s handling characteristics, which may have helped Hamilton close the gap on Ferrari veteran Leclerc.

• READ MORE: Adrian Newey started sketching Ferrari’s front wing when he saw it for the first time on the F1 grid

“The feeling that [Hamilton] has today [is] to lead the project,” said Vasseur. “To be there at the beginning.

“When you go in the simulator in June and you say, ‘OK what about the suspension for next year?’ and we ask the drivers, ‘What do you feel, what do you want to do?’ and when you have the feeling that you are the origin of this, you are much more confident [than] when you have the feeling that someone else… decided for you.

“He also has this feeling today that he’s there from the beginning of the project, which is, from a psychological point of view and a technical point of view, really helpful.”

Why Miami is statistically Lewis Hamilton’s worst circuit

Excluding Madrid, which makes its debut this year, there are only three circuits on the current calendar where Hamilton has never won – Miami, Zandvoort, Las Vegas.

But while Hamilton has stood on the podium in Vegas and the Netherlands, he hasn’t yet finished in the top three in Miami, aside from last year’s Sprint race.

It should be noted that none of Hamilton’s teammates have scored a podium either since the event joined the calendar in 2022.

But based on Ferrari’s form so far, he has an excellent chance to break his duck this weekend.

Indeed, Ferrari are bringing a major upgrade package to Florida, one they hope will change the landscape at the front of the grid.