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via RacingNews365Lewis Hamilton makes 'not natural' claim as F1 learning set to developLewis Hamilton has expressed that the new 2026-spec Formula 1 cars are still not 'natural' to drive, indicating that drivers are still adapting to the changes. He highlighted the importance of energy management under the new engine regulations and noted that the chassis design has shifted back to an aerodynamic focus, which he is more familiar with from previous seasons.
Despite a challenging season where he is currently 101 points behind Kimi Antonelli, who has won eight races, Hamilton remains optimistic about his team's performance. He believes Ferrari is competitive with the top teams and is focused on making the necessary improvements to close the gap. Hamilton is enjoying the process of working closely with his team as they plan for future regulations.
via Motorsport.comLeclerc explains why he won't copy Hamilton's styleCharles Leclerc has clarified his decision not to emulate Lewis Hamilton's driving style while adapting to Ferrari's 2026 Formula 1 car. He stated that the challenges posed by the new regulations made it difficult to replicate Hamilton's approach.
via gpfans.comHinchcliffe says Hamilton and Ferrari's 2026 hopes are overJames Hinchcliffe has stated that Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari's chances of winning the 2026 Formula 1 championship are effectively finished after a costly retirement at the Spanish Grand Prix. The former IndyCar driver described Ferrari's performance as a 'resounding flop', further diminishing Hamilton's aspirations for an eighth world title.
via f1oversteer.comCharles Leclerc was sure Fred Vasseur would make him ‘first driver’ when he joined FerrariCharles Leclerc was confident that Fred Vasseur would elevate him to the role of 'first driver' upon his arrival at Ferrari. This expectation stemmed from Leclerc's previous relationship with Vasseur during their time at Alfa Romeo, and he reportedly advocated for Vasseur's hiring partly due to this belief.
Despite Leclerc's hopes, he has not been granted the status of top driver in his tenure alongside Carlos Sainz, as Ferrari has struggled to compete for the championship. Vasseur has maintained a neutral stance on driver hierarchy, citing concerns about the potential negative impact of favouring one driver too early in the season.
via gpfans.comChristian Horner 'perfect man' to fix Ferrari as F1 star highlights Vasseur's 'big mistake'Christian Horner has been identified as the 'perfect man' to lead Ferrari, especially following recent tensions between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. These tensions arose during the Dutch and Italian Grands Prix, where Leclerc's refusal to let Hamilton pass cost him valuable time and points, leaving Hamilton significantly behind in the championship race.
Former F1 driver Marc Surer has criticized Ferrari's team principal Fred Vasseur for not taking a stronger stance during these incidents, calling it a 'big mistake'. Surer believes that for Horner to succeed at Ferrari, he would need the autonomy to assemble his own team, similar to what Ross Brawn did in the past, to restore the team's competitive edge.
via gpfans.comF1 News Today: Hamilton escapes, Mercedes masterplan and Verstappen Le Mans statementLewis Hamilton has taken a break from the intense atmosphere at Ferrari, enjoying a mini world tour with girlfriend Kim Kardashian, which included stops in Paris, London, and a gala in Los Angeles. This comes as Mercedes continues to perform strongly in the season, aiming for both the drivers' and constructors' championships.
Mercedes trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin confirmed that upgrades for the W17 are expected soon, specifically for the upcoming race in Malaysia. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen's potential participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans has been highlighted, as there are no F1 races scheduled to clash with the event this year. Additionally, Aston Martin's Mike Krack has expressed concerns over Fernando Alonso's future, while Cadillac's Mark Walter faces legal troubles.
via Formula1.comAzerbaijan Grand Prix odds favour top teamsBetting odds for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix indicate strong support for leading teams ahead of the race in Baku. Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari face challenging prospects according to the latest assessments.
via Motorsport WeekPaddock insider reveals Lewis Hamilton’s ‘psychological war’ on Nico RosbergOtmar Szafnauer has disclosed the psychological tactics Lewis Hamilton employed against his former Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg during their intense rivalry. Szafnauer recounted how Hamilton would hide Rosberg's football, which the German used to prepare for races, as a way to disrupt his focus and rhythm.
Additionally, Szafnauer noted that Hamilton's mind games were reminiscent of those used by Michael Schumacher, who also aimed to unsettle Rosberg during their time together. Despite Hamilton's tactics, Rosberg ultimately triumphed by winning the 2016 drivers' championship before announcing his retirement from Formula 1.
via f1oversteer.comFormer McLaren man admits ‘no-one in the team’ thought Lewis Hamilton was ‘that special’ at firstIn 2007, Lewis Hamilton made his Formula 1 debut with McLaren, showcasing remarkable talent that led him to finish just one point behind champion Kimi Raikkonen. Despite his impressive performance, including four race wins and 12 podiums, former McLaren reserve driver Pedro de la Rosa revealed that initially, no one in the team believed Hamilton was as exceptional as he turned out to be. De la Rosa claimed he was the first to recognize Hamilton's potential, while others underestimated him, particularly in comparison to teammate Fernando Alonso.
The article highlights the challenges Hamilton faced during his rookie season, including a significant mistake in the rain during the Chinese Grand Prix and a mechanical failure in Brazil, which ultimately cost him the championship. Despite these setbacks, Hamilton's performance earned him recognition and respect, solidifying his status as a generational talent in the sport. The insights from de la Rosa and Briatore emphasize the initial skepticism within McLaren regarding Hamilton's abilities, which would later be proven wrong as he became one of the most successful drivers in F1 history.
via f1oversteer.comFerrari employee admits Lewis Hamilton's 'followers' have complicated his relationship with the teamA Ferrari employee has revealed that Lewis Hamilton's significant influence and star power have complicated his relationship with the team. Amidst a series of strategic errors and a recent DNF at the Spanish Grand Prix, concerns have been raised about how Hamilton's presence affects team dynamics, particularly regarding decision-making and communication. The employee noted that the fear of openly disagreeing with Hamilton stems from his massive social media following, which surpasses that of Ferrari itself.
Despite Hamilton's denial of trying to influence personnel changes within the team, the situation highlights the challenges Ferrari faces in balancing the input of a high-profile driver with maintaining a clear chain of command. While Hamilton's experience and success could benefit Ferrari, there is a cautionary note about granting too much power to any driver, as it could disrupt the team's hierarchy and decision-making processes.
via RacingNews365Lewis Hamilton shares insight into dramatic McLaren contract disasterLewis Hamilton shared his experiences from a difficult time in his early career when he lost a contract with McLaren. Initially signed to their junior program, Hamilton expressed his eagerness to move into Formula 1 but faced setbacks when McLaren ended their association with him in 2005. Despite this, he managed to regain his footing by winning races in Formula 3, which led to him securing his contract back with the team.
In 2006, Hamilton had a successful season in GP2, winning the championship, which paved the way for his debut with McLaren in 2007 alongside Fernando Alonso. Hamilton's career took off rapidly, culminating in winning the F1 championship in 2008, just his second season in the sport. He continued to race for McLaren until he transitioned to Mercedes in 2013.
via gpfans.comLewis Hamilton should be a TEN-time F1 champion and it's closer than you may thinkLewis Hamilton, a seven-time Formula 1 world champion, has faced several unfortunate circumstances that could have led him to a total of ten championships. After leaving Mercedes in 2024 to join Ferrari, he aimed to secure his eighth title and end Ferrari's long wait for a championship. However, his past seasons have seen him miss out on titles due to a combination of bad luck and controversial decisions.
The article highlights three key seasons where Hamilton's chances were thwarted. In 2007, he lost the championship by just one point after a pit lane incident and technical issues. In 2016, a catastrophic engine failure while leading a race cost him the title against Nico Rosberg. Most notably, in 2021, a controversial decision during the final race allowed Max Verstappen to claim the championship, despite Hamilton leading under a safety car. These events illustrate how close Hamilton has been to achieving a tenth title.
via f1oversteer.comCharles Leclerc is suffering more than Lewis Hamilton from Ferrari’s ‘black hole’ explodingFerrari is facing significant challenges in the 2026 Formula 1 season, particularly with their SF-26 car, which is affecting Charles Leclerc more than Lewis Hamilton. Despite both drivers achieving victories earlier in the season, their hopes for a championship are dwindling as they trail behind Mercedes in the standings. Leclerc's performance is being hampered by the team's predictive power delivery software, which is not allowing him to fully utilize his driving style during qualifying sessions.
The issues with Ferrari's strategy and electronic mapping have led to a noticeable gap in performance between Leclerc and Hamilton, even though their qualifying pace difference is minimal. Hamilton has expressed confidence that Mercedes would outperform Ferrari in qualifying, indicating that Ferrari may have reached their performance limits too early in the sessions. As the season progresses, the team must address these problems to improve their standings.
via PlanetF1Lewis Hamilton draws ‘impressed rather than reckless’ claim after Spanish GPLewis Hamilton faced significant brake issues during the Spanish Grand Prix, which ultimately forced him to retire from the race. Despite the challenges, Hamilton attempted to continue racing while Ferrari worked on a live fix for the brake failure. His efforts were noted by David Coulthard, who expressed admiration for Hamilton's determination rather than labeling his actions as reckless.
The race marked a critical moment in Hamilton's season, as he now finds himself 101 points behind the championship leader, Kimi Antonelli. The incident has raised concerns about Hamilton's chances of securing a record eighth title in Formula 1, especially as the season progresses and challenges mount.
via f1oversteer.comLewis Hamilton ‘cherished’ what Ferrari mechanics did for him before he even joined the teamLewis Hamilton expressed his appreciation for the support he received from Ferrari mechanics during the 2023 Singapore Grand Prix, even while he was still a Mercedes driver. After finishing third in the race, he noted the absence of his own team members who were occupied with recovering George Russell's car, leading to Ferrari mechanics celebrating his achievement instead. This moment made Hamilton feel a connection with Ferrari, which he described as feeling like 'his team' for that weekend.
Hamilton signed a contract to race for Ferrari starting in 2025, having always dreamed of driving for the iconic team. His long and successful tenure with Mercedes included 246 races and six world championships, but he felt a move to Ferrari was necessary as Mercedes struggled in the new ground-effect era. Hamilton acknowledged that not racing for Ferrari would have been a significant regret, especially as he approaches retirement.
via gpfans.comFerrari boss 'annoyed' with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, claims F1 insiderFerrari team principal Fred Vasseur is reportedly frustrated with drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc following a first-lap incident during the Italian Grand Prix. Ralf Schumacher suggested that Vasseur's annoyance was due to Hamilton being forced off the track by Leclerc, which negatively impacted Hamilton's race, finishing in tenth place. Leclerc also faced difficulties, crashing shortly after the incident.
In response to the situation, Vasseur spoke with both drivers to remind them of the team's operational principles. Hamilton expressed his desire for clearer communication and 'rules of engagement' to prevent future conflicts. Both drivers later addressed the incident, with Leclerc admitting his mistake and Hamilton noting the importance of their open discussion to move forward.
via RacingNews365Lewis Hamilton praises Formula 1's convergenceLewis Hamilton has expressed admiration for the remarkable convergence among Formula 1 teams. He highlighted how this phenomenon showcases the competitiveness of the sport despite the differences between the teams.
via PlanetF1Hamilton delusion, Antonelli opens door to Ferrari future, Alonso’s $5m buy – roundupFerrari has confirmed a multi-year partnership with Japanese technology company Rakuten, set to begin in the 2027 Formula 1 season. This announcement comes as the team continues to compete in the 2026 season, where they currently hold second place in the constructors' standings with several races remaining.
In addition to the sponsorship news, Kimi Antonelli has expressed that he is not ruling out a future move to Ferrari, despite his current focus on achieving success with Mercedes. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton faces scrutiny following a period of tension within the team, contrasting with the optimism following his win in Barcelona earlier this year. Fernando Alonso has also made headlines by adding a $5 million Bugatti to his car collection.
via f1oversteer.comLewis Hamilton once revealed his thoughts on a Sprint race being held at the Monaco Grand PrixLewis Hamilton previously voiced his concerns regarding the addition of a Sprint race at the Monaco Grand Prix, emphasizing that the iconic track requires a new approach rather than simply adding more races. He highlighted the challenges of overtaking on the narrow streets of Monaco and expressed a desire for a wider track, which is unlikely due to the location's constraints.
The announcement of the 2027 F1 calendar, which includes Monaco as one of ten Sprint races, has sparked discussions about the increasing number of races in the season. With a total of 34 races scheduled over 39 weeks, concerns about driver fatigue have been raised, especially compared to the 17 races during Hamilton's rookie season two decades ago.
via RacingNews365Lewis Hamilton handed 'truly remarkable' verdict as key question posedLewis Hamilton, the most successful driver in Formula 1 history, is currently competing with Ferrari after a challenging previous season. Former driver David Coulthard expressed admiration for Hamilton's continued desire to race, highlighting his impressive performance this year, where he sits third in the drivers' standings, ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc.
Coulthard noted that Hamilton's adaptation to the current car regulations has been favorable, and he believes Hamilton has already established his legacy in the sport. Despite his success, Hamilton's motivation to compete remains strong, prompting questions about his ongoing commitment to racing at such a high level.Page 7 of 33