Lewis Hamilton, fresh from a triumph at Barcelona‑Catalunya, has compelled Ferrari’s engineering crew to reshape the SF‑26 to match his driving style, according to former champion Damon Hill.
Reforming the SF‑26 around Lewis Hamilton
Hill noted that Hamilton’s return to a competitive form began after he overcame the frustrations of the ground‑effect era with Mercedes. “He delivered and Ferrari listened,” Hill said, highlighting the driver’s influence on the car’s development.
He added that Hamilton’s assertive requests for car tweaks have not left him feeling isolated within the team, contrasting the atmosphere he experienced at Mercedes.
Brake evolution: Carbon Industrie and Brembo shift
The SF‑26 now carries Carbon Industrie brake discs and pads, a swap Hamilton made after a similar change for Charles Leclerc at the Monaco Grand Prix. “You have to have faith to brake at the last millisecond,” Hill remarked, underscoring the critical nature of the braking system in high‑speed cornering.
Stakeholders: Fred Vasseur’s role and Ferrari’s investment
Hill also praised team‑principal Fred Vasseur for recognising Hamilton’s needs and helping to translate them into the car’s design. “He can see Lewis from the very early days and coach Ferrari to give him what he wants,” Hill observed, comparing Vasseur to a “Ross Brawn” figure for Hamilton.
With Ferraris’ sizable investment in the British star, Hill stressed that ignoring his feedback would have been an obvious misstep.
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