Lewis Hamilton Aims to Inject “Some of My DNA” into Ferrari’s 2026 Car Amid Criticism of 2025 Challenger

Lewis Hamilton has expressed his desire to have “some of my DNA” incorporated into Ferrari’s 2026 Formula 1 car as he criticised the balance of the team’s 2025 challenger. The seven-time world champion, who joined Ferrari from Mercedes this season, has struggled to find consistent pace and remains without a podium at the halfway point of the campaign.

While Hamilton trails his teammate Charles Leclerc in the Drivers’ Championship—Leclerc currently holds four podium finishes—Ferrari as a whole has underperformed relative to pre-season expectations. Although a series of upgrades have improved the SF-25, Hamilton revealed that he is working closely with Ferrari’s chassis technical director Loic Serra to replace what he considers “unwelcome characteristics” of the current car with elements better suited to his driving style.

Speaking ahead of the British Grand Prix, Hamilton said, “This year with this car, we have lots of different tools and ways in which we can set the car up. Charles has been here for a long time, and he’s been a part of evolving and developing this car, and he’s very accustomed to it. He’s found one way which the car works. I’ve tried all the other directions that should work but they just don’t for whatever reasons. And I’ve slowly migrated to the place where Charles does run the car, and last week our pace was the closest it’s been.”

Hamilton acknowledged the ongoing challenges, adding, “It’s still tough. It’s a tough balance to drive and it’s not a comfortable one. It’s not one that I want to have in future.”

Looking ahead, he concluded, “So I’m working with Loic (Serra) and all the guys at the factory to make sure that the next car will have some of my DNA, and hopefully we’ll be able to get some of the characteristics that I’m hoping to have in it next year.”