Lewis Hamilton’s start to life at Ferrari hasn’t gone as smoothly as he might’ve hoped – but there are signs next season could bring some needed changes.
The seven-time world champion is still waiting for his first podium in red, making these first 10 races one of the toughest stretches of his career. Ferrari have shown flashes of pace, like Hamilton’s Sprint race win in China, but haven’t recaptured that form since their disqualification earlier in the season.
In response, Ferrari have fast-tracked upgrades to Hamilton’s car ahead of the Austrian GP, hoping to turn the tide. Speaking ahead of the weekend, Hamilton told Speedweek that the team are also planning to fix an issue that’s been bothering him since he arrived – but it will have to wait until 2026.
Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari will fix understeer issue in 2026 car
Ferrari’s 2025 car has taken a step back compared with last year’s model, which challenged for the constructors’ title and notched a pair of wins by midseason.
For Hamilton, the main headache has been persistent understeer, especially through the middle of corners. It’s made traction a challenge and kept him from finding the confidence he needs behind the wheel.
“Work is underway on the 2026 car so that we can prevent having the same problems again next year, such as eradicating the annoying understeer,” Hamilton said.
Austrian Grand Prix could serve as a test for floor upgrade
Hamilton complained that he experienced the worst balance of his F1 career at the Spanish GP. To address the issue, the Scuderia may test a new floor at the Austrian GP.
It is essentially a test version of a larger upgrade set for the British GP, where Ferrari plan to introduce major changes to the rear suspension.
While the British driver isn’t expecting the new parts to transform the car overnight, any progress would be welcome in what’s been a gruelling season so far.
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