A different Lewis Hamilton in red
Lewis Hamilton spent much of his first season at Ferrari searching for answers. Now, six races into 2026, the tone has changed.
The seven-time world champion sits second in the drivers’ championship, already with three podiums to his name. It is a sharp turn from a difficult debut campaign with the Scuderia, where he struggled to find rhythm, confidence and the final tenths that had so often defined his career.
Hamilton is still waiting for his first Ferrari victory. He is also 66 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli. But for the first time since his move to Maranello, there is a sense that the partnership is beginning to make sense.
The changes he had been asking for
Hamilton says the improvement has not come by chance. It has come, he believes, because Ferrari finally acted on the changes he had been pushing for behind the scenes.
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According to RacingNews365, Hamilton credited team principal Fred Vasseur for listening after a difficult first year and giving him the support he needed to get closer to the front.
“I couldn’t have done that without this team, without the reliability that we have, and also with Fred,” Hamilton said. “Fred has been awesome in supporting me. I think last year was really tough for both of us and I’ve been begging him for certain changes. He pulled through and he did those, and now I’m seeing the fruits of that and I’m able to finally deliver for them.”
Hamilton did not spell out exactly which changes made the difference. Reports from Monaco suggested, however, that he had moved to Carbon Industries brake discs earlier in the season, a switch that may have helped him find more feel and confidence in the car.
Vasseur’s backing matters
For Hamilton, the turnaround appears to be about more than one technical adjustment. It is also about trust.
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His first year at Ferrari was never going to be simple. A driver so used to winning had to adapt to a new team, a new car philosophy and a different way of working. At times, the move looked uncomfortable.
Vasseur’s response now looks increasingly important. Rather than asking Hamilton simply to adapt, Ferrari appear to have adjusted around him as well. That may prove crucial if the team is to turn podiums into victories.
Still chasing, but no longer drifting
Hamilton is not pretending Ferrari are where they want to be. Antonelli’s lead remains significant, and the fight with Mercedes is still very much alive. But Hamilton sounds encouraged by the direction of travel.
“It’s still very early days in the season, so we just have to keep chasing,” he said. “It’s actually easier to chase than it is to defend.”
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That line says plenty. Hamilton is not speaking like a driver clinging to second place. He sounds like one who believes the car, the team and the timing are finally beginning to line up.
For Ferrari, that belief matters. For Hamilton, it may be the first real sign that his move to Maranello can still become what he hoped it would be.
Sources: racingnews365.com
