Lewis Hamilton spoke about the ongoing discussions at Ferrari as the team works towards a return to glory in Formula 1.
Ferrari has the longest history in F1 of any team, bringing with it the heritage, prestige and the fanbase that treat it as a religion. Naturally, that comes with an internal structure that is hard to shift and a culture built into the foundation.
Hamilton joined the team in a shock move for the 2025 season. The Briton struggled in the first season, mentioning the difference between the Mercedes and Ferrari culture, from the operational side of the team to the language spoken within the team.
Long-term changes to the team
However, 2026 has seen the cards shift for Hamilton. The seven-time world champion has praised the team’s communication and how they have adjusted to his requests and suggestions.
He recognised that bringing any larger changes to a team so firmly rooted in their history like Ferrari is a far ‘longer-term’ process than one season.
“I think it’s a longer-term process. It’s something we can’t just change this weekend. There’s a huge amount of moving parts.” He told the media, including Motorsport Week.
“There are a lot of people. There’s a culture that’s been there for a long, long time. Moving big pieces isn’t easy.”
For Hamilton, the first step is the team acknowledging the areas that don’t work and the places that need change, which, so far, the Briton says the team have done willingly.
“We just take it one step at a time. It starts with discussing it. It starts with the acknowledgement, which we have internally. Then it just comes to working out solutions together.”
Naturally, with any major changes, Hamilton noted that it will likely be a process of trial and error. However, it’s better to try things that might work than stick with the same formula that has left F1’s most successful team without a Championship title for 18 years.
’It just doesn’t happen overnight. We’ll probably try things, and it still won’t be good. But we’ll eventually get to the point where we need it.” He said.
While Ferrari have not won a title in nearly two decades, they’ve remained on the trail of those who had often been marginally away from their return ot glory.
With a willingness to change and adapt and with the experience of Hamilton, who spent his tenure at Mercedes winning consistent driver and constructors’ titles, there’s no reason the Prancing Horses can’t return to the top.
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