Lewis Hamilton’s first year at Ferrari was frustrating. He inherited a 2025 car, an evolution of the 2024 chassis, with a new front suspension that never received development. Ferrari halted work on that model early to focus on the 2026 project, leaving Hamilton to adapt without input. A reshuffle saw Carlo Santi replace Riccardo Adami as race engineer, a change Hamilton dubbed the “Italian Bono.”

For 2026 Hamilton’s influence grew. He urged the team to pursue bold ideas, and the design office responded with the rotating “Macarena” rear wing that flips upside‑down to reduce drag on straights. Ferrari also trialled exhaust‑mounted winglets, a feature now appearing on most of the grid. Hamilton said hearing his feedback finally being acted on has “released” him to focus on racing.

Despite progress, Ferrari still chases extra downforce to threaten Mercedes regularly. The team introduced a new aero package for the Barcelona Grand Prix, adding an updated front wing and revised floor elements. Two ADUO upgrades arrived, but power‑unit development will take longer. Hamilton concluded that the current trajectory shows Ferrari finally acting as the innovator he demanded.