The Scuderia Ferrari Formula One team has received car-specific preferences from Lewis Hamilton for the 2026 season, when the sport enters a new era of regulations. The seven-time world champion prefers his car’s steering and brake pedals to be suited to his driving style, and with Ferrari developing the 2026 challenger, this is the best time to explore those changes.
Hamilton has been experiencing a difficult Ferrari debut season as he continues to struggle with his current SF-25 car. One reason for his challenges could be a long 12-year stint with Mercedes, where the car was suited to his requirements, and being with the same team for multiple seasons meant those changes were carried forward.
But switching teams meant he received a car that’s very different compared to what he was used to. Just 10 rounds remain for the 2025 season to conclude, and Hamilton is yet to finish on the podium, while his teammate Charles Leclerc has finished in the top three positions five times thus far.
Hamilton recently admitted that he had been sending documents to his team, suggesting ways Ferrari could improve the current SF-25, but focusing more on how he wants his 2026 car to be built and set up. Italian publication Gazzetta.it has reported his preferences, beginning with the pedalboard.
Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Ferrari talks to his engineers in the garage during day two of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 27, 2025 in Bahrain, Bahrain.
Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Ferrari talks to his engineers in the garage during day two of F1 Testing at Bahrain International Circuit on February 27, 2025 in Bahrain, Bahrain.
Kym Illman/Getty Images
The 40-year-old driver’s position in the cockpit is crucial for the way he interacts with the controls, especially the pedalboard. On top of this, the Ferrari power unit has a stronger engine braking response than what Hamilton experienced with Mercedes. But with the possibility of limited tweaks on the SF-25, Hamilton has asked for a revision on the 2026 car.
Another area that Hamilton intends to modify on the 2026 car is the steering. The new pull-rod suspension on the SF-25 made it sharper in corners, but it gave rise to the problem of understeer. Hamilton’s car receives more front-end load in its setup to counter the challenge, but that still hasn’t remedied the situation.
Thus, he intends to run the car with a mix of different setups. However, the new configurations, involving “bars, shock absorbers with certain stiffnesses and wing” adjustments, work against the SF-25’s balance, an area that Ferrari could improve next year.
Lastly, the new Ferrari driver also prefers more rear-end stability that complements the front of his car, while Leclerc prefers a consistent front-to-back setup on his car. While the data Ferrari receives from both drivers could be contrasting, given the differences in setups on multiple race weekends, it remains to be seen to what extent Ferrari will go to ensure it offers Hamilton the tools he needs on the 2026 car.