Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari was, for many, a meeting of global commercial brands and a massive opportunity to raise revenue for the pair. After all, while Mercedes had not shown their star driver the door, by offering him only a one-year deal late in 2023, this did not feel like a vote of long-term confidence in his future.
Within months, Hamilton was brandishing his shiny new Ferrari multi-year deal, which many Italian journalists in fact guaranteed the British driver as a minimum three-year driving deal. However, instead of this “dream come true” of a Ferrari drive for Hamilton, his first season with the Maranello-based team was a disaster.
Breaking Records for the Wrong Reasons
He started breaking records for the Scuderia, but for all the wrong reasons. In the history of the iconic red team, no new driver had gone longer than 18 Grands Prix without making the podium. Hamilton went on to complete his first full season without finishing in the top three, and his podium drought was only ended in China this year, beating Didier Pironi’s record set in 1982 by seven races.
In 2025, Lewis was hammered by his young teammate Charles Leclerc, who racked up 242 points compared to the ex-champion’s 156. The once-master of the one-lap pace, who holds the record for the driver with the most pole positions in history (104), was crushed by Ferrari’s homegrown son 21-1 in qualifying.
Crucial for Hamilton was to continue his F1 career into 2026, when the ground-effect cars were finally consigned to history. This era was the worst in terms of Hamilton’s career results and lasted from 2022 to 2025.
A Turn of Fortune in 2026
Lewis has been enjoying a far better start to the 2026 season; his qualifying deficit to Leclerc is just 5-4, but he has a handsome points lead over Charles Leclerc of 147-108. Both have claimed victory, with Lewis winning handsomely in Barcelona and Leclerc finishing a long way ahead of the field at Silverstone before the Safety Car finish.
Both wins have put a spring in Ferrari’s step, given they represent circuits with configurations featuring medium- and high-speed corners. Further, the margin of victory (or Leclerc’s lead) was significant and enough to prompt a raised eyebrow from Toto Wolff, who expressed his concern after the British Grand Prix.
The Carbon Industries Brake Dispute
Having upset a number of engineers at Maranello in his first season by bringing comparisons as to how his former team would operate, Lewis finally persuaded team boss Fred Vasseur to allow him to use the carbon discs manufactured by Mercedes’ supplier, Carbon Industries. Ferrari has a long-standing relationship with Brembo, who were publicly defensive when this news became common knowledge.
Since Japan, where the blended Brembo/CI brake setup was fitted to Hamilton’s car, he has had the better of his teammate. A late restart at his home race in Monaco saw Charles Leclerc crash out of the Grand Prix at the final corner. His furious post-race interviews were entirely focused on the fact that he had been battling with his brakes throughout the race.
Leclerc seemed happier as the weekend of the British Grand Prix progressed, and reportedly he has migrated to the braking systems Ferrari has given Hamilton. His dominant display on Sunday during the race, while Hamilton struggled, would appear to suggest the battle will reignite between the Ferrari teammates.
After a disappointing Sprint, Leclerc was confident he could make his car more compliant. “I know what to change for the race. I have an important change in mind and I feel that the car, with which I had little feeling, can start working. I will also have advantages in the next GPs.”
Setup Debates and Simulator Snaps
That was a declaration of intent in part directed at his teammate, who later claimed in fact that Leclerc’s success was due to copying his setup. Hamilton, who has criticized the Ferrari simulator, also took a pop at its results, suggesting in fact that he knew better.
“It gives me confidence that the simulator had given very different indications on the set-up,” he said. “But my engineers and I stayed firm with our convictions. Charles had started with his setup, then the simulator pushed him to change; finally, the philosophy and the direction I had taken turned out to be the right ones, and he adapted,” reports Italian publication Corriere dello Sport.
Hamilton is clearly stating the case for him being top dog within the team, and for Fred Vasseur, he is facing a situation where both of his drivers are pushing for recognition for their contributions. The competition between the pair should grow stronger as the season progresses; yet, with his newfound confidence in the car he finally found at round nine in Silverstone, it may be Leclerc who returns to dominate the qualifying battle between the Ferrari teammates.
Headed for a Summer Showdown
Going into the most energy-starved race of the season to date in Silverstone, Ferrari believed the superior hybrid deployment of Mercedes would win out. And, as Leclerc admitted, had Kimi Antonelli not suffered a disastrous technical failure on the closing laps, he would have found it difficult to defend to the line from the Mercedes driver.
Yet his 20-plus-second lead over his teammate before the late Safety Car was deployed—due to Verstappen crashing at Stowe corner—will add to his confidence that he can once again beat his seven-time champion teammate. What is certain is that the tension between the Ferrari teammates is set to rise, as both drivers now believe they have a car that will showcase their own particular driving skills.
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A.J. Hunt is Senior Editor at TJ13, where Andrew oversees editorial standards and contributes to the site’s Formula 1 coverage. A career journalist with experience in both print and digital sports media, Andrew trained in investigative journalism and has written for a range of European sports outlets.
At TJ13, Andrew plays a central role in shaping the site’s output, working across breaking news, analysis, and long-form features. Andrew’s responsibilities include fact-checking, refining editorial structure, and ensuring consistency in reporting across a fast-moving news cycle.
Andrew’s work focuses particularly on the intersection of Formula 1 politics, regulation, and team strategy. Andrew closely follows developments involving the FIA, team leadership, and driver market dynamics, helping to provide context behind the sport’s biggest stories.
With experience covering multiple seasons of Formula 1’s modern hybrid era, Andrew has developed a detailed understanding of how regulatory changes and competitive shifts influence the grid. Andrew’s editorial approach prioritises clarity and context, aiming to help readers navigate complex developments within the sport.
In addition to editorial duties, Andrew is particularly interested in how media narratives shape fan perception of Formula 1, and how reporting can balance speed with accuracy in an increasingly digital news environment.
