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Lewis Hamilton Urges Ferrari to Forget 2025 and Chase 2026 Breakthrough

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Samriddhi Jaiswal | Last updated Jul 1, 2025 11:45 AM ET

Lewis Hamilton has delivered a blunt message to Ferrari after the Austrian Grand Prix: stop dreaming about chasing McLaren this year, and put everything into preparing for the changes coming in 2026.

Ferrari showed a slight resurgence in Spielberg, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finishing third and fourth. But even on a day that felt better for the Scuderia, the reality was sobering — Leclerc still crossed the line nearly 20 seconds behind race winner Lando Norris. The deficit underlined what Hamilton believes is the hard truth: Ferrari, like the rest of the field, is no match for McLaren’s current pace.

“Well, compared to McLaren, I don’t think anyone’s catching them,” Hamilton admitted. “Never say never. Hopefully our next upgrade works the way we hope. Maybe that brings us a bit closer. At least we’re not a minute down this weekend.”

Hamilton, who has made the high-stakes switch from Mercedes to Ferrari this season, is already looking beyond 2025. With sweeping new technical regulations on the horizon — smaller, lighter cars with more electrification and 100% sustainable fuels — 2026 is shaping up to be a reset unlike any the sport has ever seen.

Hamilton believes that’s where Ferrari’s energy needs to be directed. “We should be fully focused in terms of development on next year’s car,” he said, before quickly clarifying that he knows “Mercedes have already focused on next year.”

He emphasized the importance of Ferrari zeroing in on the right suspension concept and engine development. “There’s a few problems that need fixing. I’m trying to work with the engineers to make sure they rectify them for next year.”

#AustrianGP || Lewis Hamilton: "It felt like operationally we were the best we've ever been."

"I hope so [for a podium]. I was on for a front row, not pole but second but that's a positive, I will take that and try and learn from that." pic.twitter.com/slHXKylxBP
— sin ⁴⁴ (@44britcedes) June 28, 2025

Hamilton also lifted the lid on his own struggles adapting to Ferrari’s SF-25, which is set up for Leclerc’s aggressive, oversteer-heavy style. “He drives a massively oversteery car. He slides the rears and doesn’t have degradation. When I slide the rears, I get massive degradation,” he said. “Supposedly it took Carlos a couple of years to get used to. I don’t want to do that.”

The seven-time world champion might not have the answers yet but his focus is crystal clear. For Ferrari to dethrone McLaren and Red Bull, their best shot starts in 2026.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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