Hamilton 'shook the system' at Ferrari, but couldn't fulfil all his wishes

When Lewis Hamilton donned the red of Maranello for the 2026 season, few expected one of F1's greatest drivers to endure such a difficult year. The SF-25, the engineering team, and the operational environment at Ferrari did not mesh with what Hamilton had been accustomed to over 12 years at Mercedes. But by the 2026 season, the story had completely reversed. Hamilton, at 41, is enjoying a remarkable revival, and the SF-26 – with its groundbreaking innovations – has become the paddock's center of attention. In an exclusive interview with Autosport, team principal Fred Vasseur revealed how he and Hamilton 'paved the way' for the comeback. Vasseur admitted Hamilton 'shook the system' from day one: 'moving mountains' from changing his engineering team to switching brake configuration – a seemingly simple technical change that profoundly affects driving feel and tire management strategy. However, Vasseur was also candid: 'We didn't do everything that he wanted!'. The main reason was the cost cap – an invisible but very real barrier in F1's new financial era. The most notable technical highlight is the exhaust winglet on the SF-26. This innovation has been widely copied by other teams during the 2026 season – a signal that Ferrari has achieved a genuine aerodynamic breakthrough. Vasseur revealed that by attacking the 2026 regulations head-on, Ferrari was able to build the car from a blank sheet, perfectly integrating feedback from Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. The result is a competitive car: in sprint qualifying, 3-4 teams are separated by just 0.050 seconds – an unprecedented competitive density. Vasseur also emphasized his management philosophy: 'It's good to shake the system a little bit. If you stay in your bubble all your life with the same people, at one stage you will struggle to improve.' He actively recruits personnel from other teams, bringing in 'different visions', and views the integration process as 'added value' rather than 'a disturbing process'. This is particularly important for a historic team like Ferrari, where internal culture has often been criticized as conservative. However, not everything went smoothly. Hamilton – with two decades of experience and 7 world championships – requested more changes, but Vasseur had to decline due to the cost cap or the team's overall interests. 'We have to be smart about making drastic changes. The cost cap forces us to prioritize.' This is a delicate balancing act: keeping a star driver happy without sacrificing team stability. Regarding internal relationships, Vasseur described Hamilton and Leclerc as having 'very open discussions' about the team's development direction. Both are encouraged to contribute, and Vasseur insists 'one of the key qualities of drivers is to be able to contribute to the development of the team'. This approach allows Ferrari to maximize the systems knowledge from Mercedes that Hamilton brings, while maintaining cohesion with Leclerc – a driver who has been with the team since his youth. Looking ahead, the 2026 season promises a fierce battle. With a gap of just 0.050 seconds, victory will come not only from pure speed but also from strategy, reliability, and adaptability. Ferrari has positioned itself at the front, but can they sustain the development pace under cost-cap pressure? Can Hamilton, at 41, endure a full season of competition? Vasseur believes the team is ready, but only the track will provide the final answer.