Brawn: Hamilton Can Be 'Vintage' at Ferrari If Team Gels

Ross Brawn believes Lewis Hamilton can deliver a "vintage" performance in 2026, provided he establishes the right chemistry at Ferrari. After a challenging debut year at Maranello marked by friction with his race engineer, the focus is on finding the personnel to unlock the seven-time champion's potential.

Why it matters:

Hamilton’s move to Ferrari is historic, yet his first season was marred by adaptation struggles. With the sport entering a massive regulatory reset, the opportunity is open. If Ferrari can fix the operational side, they have a title contender; otherwise, the partnership risks stagnation.

The details:

• Personnel Shift: The disconnect with former race engineer Riccardo Adami was a major hurdle. Radio exchanges were tense, leading Ferrari to reassign Adami. The team is racing to find a permanent replacement before Melbourne, with Bryan Bozzi handling initial testing.
• Technical Reset: Brawn and Toto Wolff believe the 2026 regulations suit Hamilton. The new cars feature active aerodynamics and a 50/50 power split.
• Driver Skill: New "overtake" and "boost" modes require intelligent energy management. Brawn notes that if Hamilton sees a genuine opportunity with these tools, his competitive drive will return.

Looking Ahead:

The clock is ticking as Ferrari heads to the Barcelona shakedown. Securing the right race engineer is the immediate priority, but long-term success hinges on adapting to the new technical landscape. If the pieces align, the grid could see a resurgence of "vintage" Hamilton challenging the frontrunners immediately.