Hamilton praises Ferrari’s 2026 progress, but warns: “We have to execute things better”

Key takeaways

• Pride in development: Lewis Hamilton praised Ferrari’s progress under the 2026 regulations, expressing pride in the steps taken both before and during the season.
• Focus on operational execution: Hamilton urged the team to refine race weekend execution to maximize performance gains during the remaining rounds.
• Special focus for Monza: As Ferrari prepares for its home race at Monza, operational precision will be critical to capitalizing on car development.

Lewis Hamilton offered high praise for Ferrari’s technical growth during the 2026 Formula 1 season, highlighting the collective pride inside Maranello while cautioning that operational execution must improve during the second half of the championship.

Speaking during the Dutch Grand Prix weekend, the seven-time world champion emphasized that adjusting to Formula 1’s 2026 technical reset has tested every team on the grid. Despite early challenges, Hamilton noted that Ferrari has built strong internal momentum through consistent car updates.

“We still need to keep developing the car. We definitely have many areas we need to improve. But we’ve come a very, very long way. And we’re really proud of the steps we took before the start of this season and throughout it,” Hamilton stated.

“It’s been a huge challenge for all teams. Every team made mistakes, naturally, with the new regulations. And yes, we just need to keep pushing. Everyone inside the team is very motivated and focused. There’s a lot of confidence in the team, which is incredible to see,” he added.

Ferrari enters the upcoming European swing having already secured two Grand Prix victories in 2026. However, as the paddock prepares for Ferrari’s home event at Monza, Hamilton pointed to weekend execution as the primary area for refinement.

“We are continuously adding performance and taking the car forward. So there’s not much more I can ask for. I don’t think I can ask anything more from the team, other than trying to execute things better in the second half of the season,” Hamilton concluded.

Hamilton’s reflections arrive amid intense technical preparation at Maranello ahead of Monza, where Ferrari is evaluating whether to deploy its upgraded 067/6 power unit for the Italian GP. Meanwhile, paddock headlines continue to swirl around driver developments, as Lando Norris reaffirmed his loyalty to McLaren and Italian motorsport authorities proposed Imola as a candidate for the 2026 season finale.

Formula 1 returns from September 4–6 at Monza for the Italian Grand Prix, the 13th round of the 2026 World Championship. GRANDE PRÊMIO provides complete live coverage of every session across all categories. Follow all updates on our news page.

World Championship Standings (Top 5 after Dutch GP)

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

1. What area of improvement did Lewis Hamilton highlight for Ferrari?

Hamilton emphasized that while car development has been strong, Ferrari must focus on better operational execution during race weekends in the second half of the season.

2. How many races has Ferrari won in the 2026 Formula 1 season?

Ferrari has secured two Grand Prix victories so far during the 2026 World Championship campaign.

3. When is the next race on the 2026 F1 calendar?

Formula 1 resumes action from September 4–6, 2026, for the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.