Fred Vasseur praises Lewis Hamilton: "He was the origin of key 2026 Ferrari design choices"
Lewis Hamilton is experiencing a renewed sense of motivation at Ferrari this season, a shift that team principal Fred Vasseur attributes directly to the seven-time world champion's integral role in developing the 2026 car.
After a challenging first season with the Scuderiaâwhere he failed to secure a single podium finishâHamilton frequently highlighted his lack of involvement in the design of the SF-25, a car originally driven by Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. However, the start of the 2026 campaign has revealed a revitalised Hamilton. This resurgence is partly due to Ferrari's overall progress, but the numbers speak for themselves: Hamilton has amassed 41 points in the opening three rounds, a stark contrast to the mere three points he held at this stage last year.
Leading the SF-26 project from the beginning
In an interview with The Race, Vasseur shed light on the psychological toll of Hamilton's initial transition. After spending 12 consecutive seasons deeply embedded in Mercedes' development cycle, joining a team where he had no input into the car's foundational design proved demoralising.
That dynamic shifted midway through last year when Ferrari began developing the SF-26. The team actively sought Hamilton's expertise on critical areas, including the car's suspension. This inclusion has transformed the 41-year-old's mindset, allowing him to feel like a leader. Furthermore, the regulation changes have fundamentally altered the car's handling characteristics, a factor that may have assisted Hamilton in closing the performance gap to Ferrari veteran Leclerc.
"The feeling that [Hamilton] has today [is] to lead the project," Vasseur explained. "To be there at the beginning."
The Ferrari team principal emphasized the importance of driver feedback in the early stages of car design. "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."
Vasseur added: "He also has this feeling today that heâs there from the beginning of the project, which is, from a psychological point of view and a technical point of view, really helpful."
Breaking the Miami curse
As the Formula 1 paddock heads to Florida, Hamilton faces a unique statistical anomaly. Excluding Madrid, which makes its calendar debut this year, there are only three current circuits where Hamilton has never claimed victory: Zandvoort, Las Vegas, and Miami.
While he has secured podium finishes in both the Netherlands and Vegas, a top-three finish in the Miami Grand Prix has eluded him, 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.
However, 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. As Ferrari is positive Miami Grand Prix upgrades will change the script, this weekend's Ferrari Miami upgrade could be a turning point for 2026.
Simone Scanu
Il est ingénieur logiciel et passionné de Formule 1 et de sport automobile. Il a cofondé Formula Live Pulse afin de rendre les données télémétriques en direct et les informations sur les courses accessibles, visuelles et faciles à suivre.