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The pressure is on Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari to deliver results in 2026, after a miserable 2025 campaign left him suggesting that he should be replaced.
That claim came after qualifying at the Hungarian GP when he was knocked out in Q2, and it was a clear representation of the seven-time champion’s despondency. It was a tough start to the season at Ferrari, and it only got worse after the summer break.
Q1 exits and a lack of race pace culminated in Hamilton finishing without a podium in a season for the first time in his career. It was far from what the 40-year-old was expecting when he signed on the dotted line in Maranello.
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He was hoping for a fresh start, but instead, Hamilton’s first season was similar to Alain Prost’s sacking in 1991. While he did not criticise Ferrari so openly as the Frenchman did, the team will lose patience with him if he cannot deliver in 2026.
In fact, it would seem that they already have. Hamilton is on his ‘last chance’ at Ferrari, with his contract said to expire in 2026 and Oliver Bearman is poised to replace him.
That makes next season a critical year for him and the team. The 2026 F1 regulations present a fresh challenge for the grid, and perhaps a welcome change for Hamilton after his struggles in the ground effect era.
Lewis Hamilton should be encouraged as Ferrari’s 2026 engine has had ‘excellent’ performance in testing
At present, no one knows where any team is in terms of their power units in 2026. The consensus is that Mercedes will have the fastest engine, but the Brackley outfit have been trying to downplay their advantage.
Ferrari prioritised 2026 early as they looked to get a head start on development and give Hamilton and Charles Leclerc the best chance to perform from the off.
Of course, their performance will not be known until the car hits the track, but early indications suggest things are looking good in Maranello. According to a report from Funoanalisitecnica, Ferrari’s hybrid component of the power unit is performing ‘very well on the test bench’.
Finish the sentence: Lewis Hamilton will finish the 2026 F1 season in ______
The MGU-K produced ‘excellent energy recovery capabilities’, which were ‘exactly at the levels set before its construction’. It seems that Ferrari are meeting their expectations, which should be music to Hamilton’s ears.
Naturally, Ferrari cannot compare their progress to their rivals at the moment. However, with the ‘very encouraging signs’ that continue to come out of the factory, Hamilton has reason to be excited ahead of what could be his final season in F1.
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Are Ferrari starting to listen to Lewis Hamilton ahead of 2026?
Riccardo Patrese says Hamilton needs a competitive car at Ferrari or he will fall apart in 2026. The team failed to provide him with the tools in 2025, despite his calls for change.
The Brit had tried to get the Maranello outfit to change their operations behind the scenes with private documents. However, those suggestions fell on deaf ears as he struggled for performance all year.
But things could be set to change, as Ferrari completed a double Mercedes swoop for their 2026 project. It would suggest that they are finally listening to Hamilton and making the adjustments that he has called for.
Of course, Hamilton will need to play his part as well. Ultimately, he has been in the famous red team for a year now – he cannot afford to get left behind.
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