Jenson Button highlights what Adrian Newey would absolutely love about Lewis Hamilton

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Legendary F1 designer Adrian Newey and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton actually share a similar philosophy, Jenson Button says.

Despite racing in F1 for 20 seasons at three different teams, Hamilton has never driven one of Newey’s F1 cars. Newey left McLaren at the end of 2005, 16 months before the British driver made his debut.

Hamilton actually spent much of his career battling with Newey-designed Red Bull machinery, most notably in his 2021 title duel with Max Verstappen.

After Newey’s resignation, there were rumours that he could finally team up with Hamilton at Ferrari, but he was lured to Aston Martin instead, where he’s working with another world champion in Fernando Alonso.

Jenson Button says Lewis Hamilton is finally driving his ‘dream’ F1 car after 2026 rule changes

Speaking on Sky Sports F1 after the British Grand Prix Sprint last weekend, Button explained why the 2026 F1 cars suit Hamilton so well.

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Hamilton endured his first winless and podium-less seasons as an F1 driver in the ground-effect machinery. Some theorised that he was simply in decline as he entered his 40s, but his resurgent form this year suggests it was a mechanical issue.

With five podiums, including a win, already, he needs just nine points to match his tally for the entire 2025 season. Former teammate Button says he’s in a ‘dream’ scenario because this year’s cars are much sharper on turn-in, at the expense of rear stability.

Newey has long prioritised ‘maximum’ front downforce, but some drivers, including most of Verstappen’s teammates, struggle to adapt. Stylistically, he and Hamilton would be the perfect match.

“Lewis really likes a car on the nose,” Button explained. “He can drive a car with a lot of front grip, which is the dream. It’s something that Max is very good at. When Adrian Newey built the Red Bull, he said maximum front wing is the most downforce, so Max learned to drive like that.

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“Lewis is the same. He can drive a car with a lot of front grip, and some other drivers can’t. I don’t think George can. He’s very smooth, he wants it precise, he wants a strong rear, like I would have when I was racing. These cars wouldn’t suit me at all, but Lewis, it definitely does [suit].”

Button, who’s working with Newey at Aston Martin after joining the team as an ambassador, added that Alonso and championship leader Kimi Antonelli can also thrive with this handling philosophy.