Lewis Hamilton is eagerly hoping for improved performance in the upcoming Formula 1 regulatory period, following a challenging phase since the introduction of ground-effect vehicles in 2022.
The acclaimed seven-time world champion has only secured two of his 105 Grand Prix triumphs during this present era, encountering particular difficulties in qualifying sessions, as the current car designs do not inherently favor aggressive cornering maneuvers post-braking.
The situation has been so unfavorable that the 40-year-old driver asserted, “I won’t miss a single aspect of these vehicles,” marking this as his least preferred regulatory cycle since his Formula 1 debut in 2007.
Fortunately, 2026 will introduce a fresh epoch with significant modifications to both the chassis and power unit, offering Hamilton an opportunity to move past his challenging inaugural season with Ferrari in 2025.
“It has been quite fascinating,” Hamilton remarked when questioned about how his preparation for the next year distinguishes itself from prior encounters with regulation shifts.
His initial experience with such changes occurred in 2009, a season that saw the return of slick tires, an increase in wing dimensions, and alterations to the diffuser, all aimed at reducing the cars’ dependency on aerodynamic downforce.
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Photo by: James Sutton / Formula 1 / Formula Motorsport Ltd via Getty Images
However, McLaren faced difficulties, with the then-reigning champion Hamilton positioned 11th after nine races; the team eventually made a partial recovery, aiding the British driver to secure fifth place in the championship standings.
Conversely, he performed significantly better with the subsequent two rule revisions in 2014 and 2017; during this period, driving turbo-hybrid vehicles, Hamilton achieved six world championships with Mercedes, a stark contrast to his later fortunes.
“At McLaren in 2009, I recall on the first day back that year, they announced regulations would reduce downforce by 50%,” he further explained during the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
“Consequently, they engineered the car to generate 50% downforce. I remember returning in January, and they stated, ‘we’ve already achieved our goals,’ to which I wondered, ‘wow, is that typical?’. Upon reaching the initial test, there was virtually no downforce, and we were significantly behind. This experience taught me a great deal.
“Then, 2014 was exceptionally thrilling. This was also partly because I had joined a new team and could observe the remarkable efforts underway several years prior, especially concerning the engine development.
“And 2017 felt impressive because it featured a larger, broader car. It simply appeared more substantial and provided greater downforce. It was fantastic. This current generation has likely been the poorest, in my opinion, and I am earnestly hoping the next one won’t be even worse.”
F1 2026 car renders
Photo by: Liberty Media
The extent of Hamilton’s dissatisfaction with these vehicles is evident from his 2025 media appearances, where he frequently appeared extremely disheartened, often providing only monosyllabic responses.
This occurred during a season where he concluded in sixth position overall, trailing his teammate Charles Leclerc by 86 points, with a sprint victory in Shanghai marking Hamilton’s only significant achievement.
However, an underperforming Ferrari undoubtedly contributed to the issues, as all development ceased by June, and despite the immediate challenges this created, Hamilton maintains that it was the appropriate choice.
“I was advocating for Fred,” Hamilton stated, indicating Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur. “The point is, we cannot lag behind our competitors in developing the new car, as it represents a significant learning phase for everyone involved.
“Therefore, I fully endorsed it. I continue to do so – I believe it was the correct choice. Especially given our position with the car at that time, we weren’t contending for a championship.
“But it’s just meant that it’s been harder to sustain performance, or at least some of the performance we exhibited early in the year. I cannot speak for the rest of the team. From my observation, I believe everyone has remained genuinely optimistic. Consequently, I haven’t noticed any negative psychological impact.”
