Lewis Hamilton understands better than most how success brings high expectations. After setting himself the goal of winning a championship with Ferrari, the excitement around his first season with the team was immense—but results have been hard to come by. As Ferrari struggles, the seven-time champion is relying on every ounce of his experience in what could be the toughest challenge of his legendary career.
This weekend at the Hungarian Grand Prix, Ferrari announced they’ve extended team principal Fred Vasseur’s contract. Vasseur, who played a key role in bringing Hamilton to Ferrari, is tasked with turning the team back into championship contenders after years of underperformance. Yet with 10 races left after Budapest and Ferrari still winless this season, there’s much work ahead.
Hamilton has openly supported Vasseur since leaving Mercedes after 12 years. But as he adjusts to his new team, the British driver knows he must do more than just race—he needs to lead, much like Michael Schumacher did during Ferrari’s golden era.
Reports suggest Hamilton was surprised by Ferrari’s organizational structure and decision-making processes when he joined. While he believes the team has the talent to succeed, he’s made it clear they need to use their resources more effectively.
Last week in Belgium, Hamilton revealed he had held meetings with Ferrari’s key figures—Vasseur, chairman John Elkann, and CEO Benedetto Vigna—and even prepared two documents outlining improvements needed to turn the team around. One focused on car development, particularly for next year’s regulations, while the other addressed operational changes he believes are crucial.
“It’s a huge organization with a lot of moving parts, and not all of them are working as they should,” Hamilton said. “That’s why the team hasn’t had the success it deserves. My job is to challenge every area, especially those making the big decisions.”
At 40, Hamilton knows time is running out. Ferrari is likely his last chance to secure an eighth title, breaking the team’s championship drought that dates back to 2007 (drivers’) and 2008 (constructors’). He’s well aware that despite coming close with Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari hasn’t won since.
Over 11 seasons (2010-2020), Alonso and Vettel delivered wins but no titles. Hamilton’s actions show he’s determined not to fall short due to lack of effort.
“I refuse to let that happen,” he said. “I’ve been lucky to work with two great teams before, and while things are different here, I’m going the extra mile.”Here’s a more natural and fluent version of your text while keeping the original meaning intact:
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“You know, sometimes if you keep doing the same thing, you’ll keep getting the same results. So I’m just questioning certain things.”
The impact of strong leadership in Formula 1 can be game-changing, as shown by Andrea Stella’s remarkable turnaround of McLaren in just over two years. There are also signs that Lewis Hamilton is already making a difference within Ferrari.
“The response to the changes we’ve made across the board has been incredible,” he said in Hungary. “The passion and the drive to keep improving—that’s what’s really impressive.”
On track, despite Hamilton’s struggles with the car this season—going 13 races without a podium, the longest drought of his career—he’s still as sharp as ever. His performances at Silverstone and Spa proved that, and his decision to switch to slick tires in Belgium showed his instincts remain finely tuned.
Hamilton is laying the groundwork, confident that if the team delivers, he will too—especially after putting in the hard work behind the scenes this year.
Lewis Hamilton is optimistic about Ferrari’s future, believing a turnaround could lead to a record-breaking eighth drivers’ title.
During first practice at the Hungaroring, Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc continued testing Ferrari’s new rear suspension, introduced in Spa, which they hope will significantly improve the car. They finished fifth and third, respectively, in a session dominated by McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. In the second session, McLaren remained on top, with Norris leading Piastri by two-tenths. Leclerc was third, Hamilton sixth, while Max Verstappen struggled in 14th place with his car’s balance. Verstappen’s tough day got worse when he was investigated for throwing a towel (accidentally left in his car) from the cockpit while on track, earning him a warning for an unsafe release.
Meanwhile, Norris downplayed the pressure of the title race, joking that “in 200 years, we’ll all be dead” when asked if he needed to get inside Piastri’s head to win his first championship.
“I don’t enjoy that kind of thing,” Norris said. “No one will care in 200 years—we’ll all be gone. I’m just trying to enjoy myself. Of course, I still care, which is why I get frustrated sometimes. But that doesn’t mean I need to take it out on Oscar. I’m not into that.”
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