Lewis Hamilton would give ‘absolutely anything’ for Ferrari to copy what Red Bull did for Max Verstappen

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Lewis Hamilton continues to endure a disappointing first season as a Ferrari driver, and the Briton knows that one wish to boost his situation is “simply not available”.

The 40-year-old moved to Maranello for the 2025 F1 season in a bid to revive his career. But his life in red has so far seen the seven-time champion endure one of the worst terms of his 19-year career. Never before Hamilton joined Ferrari had he gone so long without a podium.

Hamilton is now 17 rounds into his adventure with the pride of Italy, yet his best finishes are the P4 results that he scored in Imola, Austria and Britain. The Stevenage-born star has also not finished higher than P6 during the past five rounds, to boast just 121 points for the year.

Last weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix also only saw Hamilton claim a P8 finish, which should have been P9. Hamilton misjudged giving P8 back to Charles Leclerc in the Azerbaijan GP, as he left it too late to allow his teammate back through having failed to overtake Lando Norris.

Lewis Hamilton would ‘give anything’ for Ferrari to bring another upgrade to their 2025 F1 car

But Hamilton knows he and Ferrari can only try to improve his situation through their set-up decisions and executing clean races, having put their focus on F1’s 2026 regulations. Ferrari debuted a rear suspension upgrade in Belgium before they stopped developing the SF-25.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about F1’s 2026 engine and aero regulations

The 2026 regulations are the priority for every team now, given the scale of the overhaul as F1 introduces new power unit, chassis, tyre and aerodynamic rules next year. But some rival crews are still introducing new updates, as Red Bull debuted a new floor upgrade at Monza.

Max Verstappen won the Italian Grand Prix from pole position, with Red Bull’s floor upgrade letting the Dutchman carry more speed through the two Lesmos and the Ascari Chicane. Yet Ferrari will not bring any new upgrades to their 2025 F1 car, despite Hamilton’s eager pleas.

Hamilton said, via Motorsport.com: “I would give absolutely anything for an upgrade, but that’s simply not available because the focus is on next year’s car. So, we have to do better in terms of set-up and execution.”

Red Bull’s continued upgrades could see them catch Ferrari in the 2025 F1 constructors’ standings

Ferrari focusing on F1’s 2026 regulations has made 2025 “less exciting” for Hamilton, too, as the Scuderia made next year’s car their priority early into his first season in red. So, the 105-time Grand Prix winner has not enjoyed developing the SF-25 as much as he would prefer.

READ MORE: Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family

Hamilton now has to hope that the work Ferrari have put into F1’s 2026 regulations pay off next term and allow the Briton to bounce back from one of the worst years of his F1 career. Ferrari will also have to hope their position is not costly in the 2025 constructors’ standings.

The upgrades that Red Bull have kept bringing to the RB21 are helping Verstappen get back in the conversation for the F1 drivers’ championship this year, as well as helping the Milton Keynes crew battle Ferrari and Merecedes over second place in the constructors’ standings.

Mercedes are now second in the constructors’ standings with 290 points, with seven Grands Prix and three F1 Sprint events to go. The Silver Arrows overtook Ferrari after the Azerbaijan GP, with the Scuderia second on 286 points and Red Bull now in fourth place on 272 points.