Hamilton 'not concerned' by Leclerc defeat in first Ferrari season, looks ahead to 2026

Lewis Hamilton says he is 'not concerned' after being soundly outperformed by teammate Charles Leclerc in his debut season with Ferrari, dismissing any alarm about the implications for the crucial 2026 regulation change. The seven-time champion pointed to Leclerc's established, 'well-oiled machine' within the team as a key factor, while he is still building relationships in a new environment.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's move to Ferrari was the biggest story of the 2025 season, but his on-track performance failed to match the hype. As the sport heads into a major rules reset in 2026, a driver's integration and standing within their team becomes critical. Hamilton's calm perspective suggests he views 2025 as a necessary bedding-in period rather than a true indicator of his or the team's potential when the competitive landscape resets.

The details:

• Hamilton finished the 2025 season 86 points behind Leclerc, who secured seven podium finishes to Hamilton's zero—marking the first podium-less season of the Briton's career.
• His sole highlight was a Sprint race victory in China, which stood as Ferrari's only win of the year.
• When asked about the performance gap and its meaning for 2026, Hamilton emphasized the contextual challenges: "Charles has done a great job. He’s been there for seven years. He’s got a team around him that he’s worked with for many years. So, it’s a well-oiled machine."
• In contrast, Hamilton described his side of the garage as a "new group of people" and a "new environment" he is still adapting to, a process complicated by a mid-season personnel change on his engineering team.

The big picture:

The entire 2025 season was effectively a prelude for Ferrari, who halted development on their SF-25 car as early as April to fully focus on the 2026 project. The upcoming regulation overhaul presents a clean slate and a prime opportunity for redemption. Hamilton's contract runs through at least the end of 2026, giving him and the team a clear two-year window to build a title-contending package from the ground up. His experience with previous major regulation changes at Mercedes could prove invaluable.

What's next:

All attention at Maranello is now fixed on 2026. Hamilton's priority will be to use the remaining time to solidify his working relationships and technical feedback loops within the team. If Ferrari produces a competitive car under the new rules, the internal dynamic between a settled Leclerc and an integrated Hamilton could become one of the most compelling storylines on the grid.