When Lewis Hamilton finished 2025 without a Grand Prix podium and 86 points behind Charles Leclerc, his move to Ferrari looked dangerously close to becoming an expensive mistake. What a difference a year makes.
Hamilton now sits third in the 2026 championship with 147 points. He has 1 victory, 5 Grand Prix podiums and a 39-point advantage over Leclerc. The driver Ferrari appeared to be guiding through the final phase of his career has instead become its leading scorer and an outside title contender.
Leclerc’s Silverstone victory underlined why Maranello has invested so heavily in him. Yet the same weekend exposed a far more complicated reality inside Ferrari. Hamilton helped establish the technical direction that unlocked the car, recovered from his own setup mistake and remained in podium contention until the closing laps.
Ferrari no longer has a clear lead driver and support act. It has 2 elite competitors shaping the car in different ways while Vasseur delays any serious discussion about Hamilton’s future.
Hamilton Has Seized Control Of Ferrari’s Technical Direction
Ferrari hired Hamilton to help build a championship-winning team. His influence now extends well beyond his own results.
Before Silverstone, the Ferrari simulator pointed toward a different starting setup. Hamilton had already become sceptical of its recommendations after finding that virtual gains did not always carry across to the circuit. He therefore stayed closer to the direction he trusted from previous races.
Leclerc initially followed Ferrari’s simulator baseline. As the weekend developed, he moved toward Hamilton’s general setup approach and found the confidence that had been missing during several difficult rounds.
The 2 drivers still made different final choices.
Leclerc stuck with an aggressive balance, leaning into his preference for a sharp and responsive front end. Hamilton felt the rear of the car was too nervous during qualifying, so he removed the front wing angle before the race.
The tweak backfired. Hamilton spent the opening stint wrestling with severe understeer and struggled to rotate the car through Silverstone’s faster corners. Changes to his differential settings helped him recover some balance, but Leclerc had already created the gap that ultimately decided their private battle.
So no, Leclerc did not simply inherit a winning setup from his veteran teammate. He chose his own final balance, executed it better and controlled the race from the front.
Hamilton still showed why his value extends beyond the standings. He identified the stronger overall direction before Leclerc adopted parts of it. That pattern has appeared elsewhere during the season.
The Brake Switch Confirmed Hamilton’s Growing Power Inside Maranello
Hamilton switched from Brembo brake discs to Carbon Industrie earlier in the campaign. He wanted a system that better matched his aggressive initial pedal application and delivered the immediate response he had trusted during much of his career.
Leclerc tested the alternative but initially remained with Brembo. His position changed after a series of difficult braking episodes.
At Monaco, the balance between the front and rear brakes became unpredictable. The front axle generated far more stopping force than Leclerc expected, while the rear offered little support. The car became unstable under braking, leaving him vulnerable to locking and sudden balance shifts when he attacked the pedal.
Leclerc later moved toward Hamilton’s preferred brake configuration.
That was not a cosmetic change. Carbon Industrie discs can suit drivers who hit the brake pedal hard and generate high initial energy. Brembo often offers a more progressive feeling, which can help drivers who build pressure more gradually.
Hamilton did more than request a familiar component. He pushed Ferrari to reconsider a technical choice that had appeared settled, then watched his teammate follow the same path after experiencing similar limitations.
Silverstone followed the same pattern. Hamilton helped shape Ferrari’s setup direction, adapted after his own front wing choice hurt the car and recovered strongly enough to run second in the closing stages.
Then the pit wall intervened.
When Max Verstappen’s crash brought out the late safety car, Ferrari called both drivers into the pits. George Russell stayed out and inherited track position ahead of Hamilton. Fresh tyres should have given the Ferrari an advantage at the restart, but the race ended before Hamilton could attack.
Maranello had covered the threat of a final sprint that never arrived. In doing so, it surrendered a position Hamilton had already earned on the circuit.
That tactical gamble matters to the hierarchy debate. Hamilton’s third place did not reflect the full strength of his afternoon. His own setup compromise slowed him early, while Ferrari’s late call restricted him at the finish. Even on a weekend won by Leclerc, Hamilton remained central to the technical and strategic story.
Vasseur’s Contract Delay Is Becoming a High-Stakes Gamble
Most of the paddock expects Hamilton to remain at Ferrari in 2027 through an option in his current agreement. Vasseur has still refused to accelerate talks about anything beyond that arrangement.
Speaking during the British Grand Prix weekend at Silverstone, the Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur presented the situation as routine contract management rather than a judgement on Hamilton’s form, saying, “He is still under contract with us, and it is not time to discuss an extension.”
There are reasons for Ferrari to wait. Hamilton is 41, and any longer agreement would require the team to assess how long his current level can continue. Oliver Bearman also needs a believable route toward a future Ferrari seat.
Yet succession planning cannot become an excuse to undervalue the driver delivering results now.
Bearman may represent Ferrari’s next era. Hamilton is helping carry the current championship challenge.
Maranello trails Mercedes in the constructors’ standings, while Hamilton remains within range of the drivers’ championship lead. This is not a ceremonial final chapter built around reputation. Ferrari has a genuine sporting opportunity, and Hamilton has become essential to it.
Ferrari Can No Longer Pretend Its Driver Hierarchy Is Settled
The strongest online criticism claims Ferrari remains too committed to Leclerc, regardless of Hamilton’s points advantage or technical contribution. That conclusion goes too far.
Leclerc earned his Silverstone victory. He made the better final setup choice, trusted his preferred front end and controlled the Grand Prix. Hamilton contributed to his own problems by removing too much of the front wing before the race.
Still, Ferrari cannot treat Hamilton as an ageing support driver whose main purpose is to improve Leclerc’s car.
Last year, the paddock questioned whether Hamilton could adapt to Maranello. His victories, podiums and technical input have silenced much of that discussion.
Ferrari now faces the difficult part. It must manage 2 elite drivers without allowing reputation, age or internal loyalty to distort its competitive calls.
Vasseur does not need to announce another contract immediately. He does need to recognise what the stopwatch and championship table already show.
Ferrari’s 2027 hierarchy cannot be assigned in advance. Hamilton is making sure it will have to be earned.
READ MORE: Why McLaren Must Wait For Mercedes Engine Fixes Until Spa
FAQs
Is Lewis Hamilton staying with Ferrari for 2027?
Most of the paddock expects Hamilton to remain through an option in his agreement. Ferrari has not announced a longer extension.
How many points does Lewis Hamilton have in 2026?
Hamilton has 147 points after the British Grand Prix. He sits third in the championship and leads Leclerc by 39 points.
Why did Hamilton change Ferrari’s brake supplier?
Hamilton wanted a stronger initial response under heavy braking. He switched from Brembo discs to Carbon Industrie to better suit his driving style.
Did Leclerc use Hamilton’s Silverstone setup?
Leclerc adopted parts of Hamilton’s general direction but made his own final choices. He kept a sharper front end and executed the setup better.
Why does Oliver Bearman affect Hamilton’s Ferrari future?
Ferrari views Bearman as a possible future senior team driver. The team must balance his pathway against Hamilton’s current form and title value.
