Lewis Hamilton commented that improving Ferrari`s communication and processes during race weekends is still developing, as he reaches the halfway point of his first season with the team.
This weekend`s British Grand Prix is the 12th race of the 24-round championship. Silverstone will mark the first occasion the seven-time world champion Hamilton drives a Ferrari car in front of his home crowd.
Despite high hopes before the season began following a strong conclusion to 2024, Ferrari`s performance has been somewhat disappointing so far, with their ambition of competing for the world championship against a dominant McLaren not fully materializing.
Meanwhile, Hamilton continues to get accustomed to the team`s car and operational methods after spending 12 years at Mercedes. The British driver has yet to achieve a podium finish in a Grand Prix this season, while his teammate Charles Leclerc has secured four top-three results.
With six months remaining until a major regulatory overhaul in F1, which Ferrari hopes will bring them back to title contention, Hamilton was asked if he was satisfied with the team`s readiness in areas apart from the 2026 car, such as communication, updates, and workflows, and if they had flexibility in these areas for the rest of the current year.
He responded: “The answer is no. It`s a work in progress.”
“There are adjustments I`m trying to bring about and make. It appears to be a rather slow process, but there are changes happening, and we are improving.”
“You want everything to happen immediately, as quickly as possible.”
“This year is essentially about building that foundation with the team. We are getting to know each other.”
“We both have different ways of working, so there are compromises and modifications we are implementing to best prepare ourselves.”
Hamilton Discusses Austria Strategy Request: `I`d never want to do the same thing as my team-mate`
Speaking to the media at Silverstone earlier, Hamilton provided an example of how he feels he and Ferrari are still learning to adjust to each other, citing last week`s Austrian Grand Prix.
During Sunday`s middle stint, running several seconds behind teammate Charles Leclerc in third and fourth positions respectively, and facing no real threat from Mercedes` George Russell behind, Hamilton asked the team pit wall to extend his run before his second and final pit stop.
However, the team stuck to their original strategy, and he pitted one lap after Leclerc. The teammates ultimately finished nine seconds apart.
Asked if they had discussed it since Sunday, Hamilton said: “Even just about an hour ago, I brought it up. I mentioned it after the race, and then we had time to think about it.”
“I believe the team`s main concern was ensuring they secured third and fourth place, which is perfectly understandable. But I told them, `Look, I`m not here to start fourth and finish fourth; I`m racing to gain every single bit we can.`”
“In a situation like that, for example, they put us on identical strategies. I think we both did medium-hard-medium. I suggested I would have preferred medium-medium-hard, so at least I`d have a different offset towards the end. I would never want to follow the same strategy as my teammate, ever.”
“Then in that last stint, we weren`t under pressure from the cars behind, and they said, `yes, but Charles would have overtaken you towards the end`. I replied, `Well, there could have been a Safety Car`. At that point, there was no risk in taking a chance, and I said, `I never want to reach a point where I`m disregarding your instructions, so what we`re doing is working on our communication.`”
“We are still getting acquainted with each other and how we prefer to operate, and that is understood.”
Can Hamilton Achieve First Ferrari Podium on Home Soil?
Hamilton returns to Silverstone a year after his record-breaking ninth victory at the circuit. That win was particularly emotional for the then-Mercedes driver, being his first F1 victory anywhere in two and a half years.
This time, the 40-year-old aims to break another unprecedented streak in his decorated career: 13 races without a podium finish.
Hamilton has, however, finished on the podium in the last 12 Silverstone races. He commented: “I`m hopeful we will be in a similar position to Austria, but I haven`t focused too much on Ferrari`s past performance here.”
“If it`s a dry day, McLaren will likely pull away into the distance. But you never know what might happen here with the wind and rain.”
“The crowd will make a significant difference, so I`m hoping they can help us get a bit closer.”
Regarding the possibility of a remarkable 10th victory, he stated: “I genuinely don`t know, and I would never want to jinx it. In my heart, I`m hoping for a strong weekend.”
“I haven`t had a podium yet, so this would be a very special place to achieve one. I`m hoping the incredible support we have here can make a difference.”
Marcus Prine