Few partnerships have generated the level of engagement that followed Lewis Hamilton’s contract agreement with Ferrari. Understandably, this driver-team duo was one of the biggest talking points heading into last season.

Inevitably, this anticipation is a double-edged sword. For all the initial excitement surrounding this move, it did not take long before criticism began to emerge. This is particularly true for Hamilton’s side of the garage.

Several areas, including Hamilton’s communication with his race engineer Riccardo Adami, have been under the microscope.

Team principal Fred Vasseur believes all areas, including Hamilton’s race engineer, must be reviewed to ensure a smoother 2026.

Lewis Hamilton, Scuderia Ferrari (Ferrari Media Gallery)
Vasseur says Ferrari must understand Hamilton better

Overall, much like the previous fifteen seasons, Ferrari’s biggest limitation in 2025 was car performance – as opposed to their driver line-up.

This is not to say Hamilton was been anywhere near his best level. The 7-time Champion regularly found himself a few steps behind Charles Leclerc on both qualifying and race day.

Still, even at their best, neither Ferrari driver had the opportunity to fight for victory this season. The closest they came to a race win was Hungary, only for plank wear concerns to force Leclerc into lifting and coasting.

Speaking of lift and coast, it was Ferrari’s double-DSQ in China that forced the Scuderia to change their calculations and be more conservative with the SF-25. Among other factors, this was one of the team’s limitations in their search of lap-time.

Returning specifically to Hamilton, there were occasional highlights – most notably his Sprint Race win in Shanghai.

Still, as quoted by Corriere, Fred Vasseur says Ferrari underestimated how difficult the adaptation process would be:

“I underestimated the extent of the change. For 20 years, he was tied to the Mercedes world. For him, everything was different – culture, methods, software, components, people.

“And if you’re not always at the top in every area, you leave tenths on the table. The difference between a 5th and 15th place this year was minimal.”

“We need to improve our collaboration. He needs to try to get more out of the car he has. Every detail counts.

“It’s also about understanding each other better. We know each other better on the other side of the garage (Leclerc’s) about knowing what Lewis needs, what he wants. I also need to understand what he wants.”

When asked specifically about changing Hamilton’s race engineer, Vasseur replied – “We’re evaluating all options.”

Fred Vasseur, Ferrari team principal (Ferrari Media Gallery)
A test for driver and team

Given that Ferrari rarely ever change race engineers, the fact Vasseur is even open to making an adjustment speaks volumes about the team’s willingness to adapt.

Of course, potentially replacing Adami is only one small consideration in a far bigger picture. On a more macro level, the Scuderia are working to ensure Hamilton properly integrates into the team for 2026.

Putting this to one side, the foundation for any meaningful Ferrari campaign will be next year’s package. It remains to be seen whether the team hit the ground running with the new regulations – or if they find themselves on the defensive.

Speculation is only intensifying as the winter break continues and the first tests of 2026 come closer. For Fred Vasseur, the preference will be to maintain a low profile and avoid the high expectations that typically accompany the team.

Until now, it is Mercedes – at least on the engine front – who are seen as favourites.

Still, regardless of who are designated as pre-season favourites, Ferrari must hit the mark on both their power unit and aerodynamic concept over the winter.

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Main photo: Ferrari Media Gallery