Lewis Hamilton has pushed Ferrari to evolve deeply since his arrival. Frédéric Vasseur nevertheless admits to having refused some of his demands.
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Lewis Hamilton didn’t wait long before trying to evolve Ferrari from within. After a particularly difficult first 2025 season, the seven-time world champion had made numerous demands to improve both the car and some of the Scuderia’s working methods.
Several of his proposals were accepted, and Hamilton had even stated that Frédéric Vasseur had “moved mountains” to implement certain changes before 2026. The Ferrari director, however, specifies that it was neither possible nor desirable to accede to all of his driver’s demands.
Ferrari sometimes said no to Hamilton
Questioned about the influence Hamilton has exerted since his arrival in Maranello, Vasseur confirms having largely listened to the Briton’s recommendations, without systematically agreeing with him.
“Yes, but we didn’t do everything he wanted,” admits the Frenchman. This approach does not only concern Hamilton, as Charles Leclerc benefits from the same freedom to propose developments.
“Suggestions are always welcome. That’s true for Lewis, it’s true for Charles, and it’s true for all drivers. After each weekend, they arrive with a list of things they would like to improve.”
Some demands are simply impossible
Ferrari must then determine which proposals can actually be implemented. The drivers’ wishes must notably be confronted with the team’s technical, financial, and organizational constraints.
“On this list, some things are out of reach because you can’t do them for the team. Drivers can very quickly understand that, from the team’s point of view, it makes no sense due to the budget cap or for another reason,” explains Vasseur.
The Frenchman also reminds that a driver does not necessarily have a complete vision of all the constraints a team must face. His remarks nevertheless remain valuable for identifying certain areas in which Ferrari can progress.
“Sometimes, they don’t have a complete vision of the situation, but it at least allows me to understand the areas where they think we are weak.”
Hamilton notably evolved Ferrari’s brakes
One of Hamilton’s most visible demands concerned the braking system. During his first season with Ferrari, the Briton had experienced significant difficulties in regaining the sensations he was used to at Mercedes.
Hamilton had notably asked to be able to use Carbon Industrie discs rather than the Brembo materials traditionally favored by Ferrari. From the Japanese Grand Prix, he had finally obtained this modification and rediscovered a technology he knew perfectly after twelve seasons at Mercedes, where he had won 84 Grands Prix and six of his seven world titles.
Charles Leclerc then adopted a similar configuration after complicated weekends in Monaco and Canada, illustrating how a demand initially formulated by Hamilton could ultimately benefit the team more broadly.
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A valuable external vision for Ferrari
For Vasseur, the interest of Hamilton’s arrival lies precisely in his ability to bring a different perspective. After more than a decade spent at Mercedes, the Briton knows the operating methods of a team that dominated Formula 1 for several years.
“Sometimes, thanks to their comments, you understand something because you were focused on the team’s vision, before realizing that the drivers’ vision is slightly different,” emphasizes the Ferrari director.
This confrontation of viewpoints is considered healthy by Vasseur, who believes that an organization risks stagnating when it remains enclosed too long in its own habits.
“It’s good to shake up the system a bit”
Hamilton’s arrival has therefore caused a kind of shockwave in Maranello, which Vasseur considers particularly positive.
“It’s good to shake up the system a bit,” he asserts. “If you stay your whole life in your bubble with the same people, at some point, you will struggle to progress.”
This philosophy does not only apply to drivers. Ferrari also seeks to benefit from experiences gained elsewhere when recruiting new engineers or technicians from competing teams.
“That’s true for drivers and it’s also true for engineers when you recruit people from other teams.”
Vasseur wants to avoid the search for excuses
The Ferrari director even considers a driver’s ability to help his team progress as one of his main qualities. But this collaboration can only work if criticism is constructive and not simply used to explain poor performance.
“One of a driver’s essential qualities is his ability to contribute to the team’s development. The worst-case scenario is when you start a discussion with the impression that the other person is simply looking for an excuse.”
Vasseur believes that Ferrari has precisely managed to avoid this situation with Hamilton and Leclerc. Disagreements may exist, but they must allow everyone to question their own certainties.
“I think we have this positive attitude of helping each other and understanding that the other person may have a different vision. I’m not always right, I’m not always wrong, and it’s only through collaboration, discussions, and exchanges that we will progress.”
Ferrari has therefore not transformed its operations to satisfy each of Hamilton’s demands. But by bringing twelve years of experience gained at Mercedes and by questioning certain habits, the Briton has contributed to “shaking up the system” in Maranello, exactly as Vasseur had hoped.
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