Lewis Hamilton has declared Ferrari to be in a "pivotal moment" with the design of its 2027 F1 challenger.
Work is already underway across the grid on designing and manufacturing the machines for next season, with just five grands prix remaining in the season.
Whilst Hamilton's Ferrari looks set to finish as runners-up to Mercedes, in the drivers' fight, he is engaged with George Russell, Max Verstappen, and team-mate Charles Leclerc in a tough fight for second place, with just nine points separating the four drivers.
In a final bid to get ahead, Ferrari unveiled its final upgrade of the season in the United States, which proved to be a strong weekend for the team, although a poor qualifying ruined its chances of fighting Kimi Antonelli for the win as Leclerc translated fourth on the grid into second place and Hamilton turned fifth into fourth - although it would have been third if not for a late VSC denying him a chance at attacking Verstappen.
Ferrari's SF-26 has been regarded as the best chassis on the grid in 2026, with GPS data proving that through the corners, it is the best machine and ahead of the Mercedes W17, Red Bull RB22 or McLaren MCL40.
With attention quickly turning to the new season, Hamilton declared Ferrari as being in a "pivotal moment."
"I feel like the team have been doing a really, really good job, and in the background, I'm working on this pivotal moment in terms of steering the car in the right direction for next year," Hamilton told media, including RacingNews365.
"I'm really working on the areas that we need to improve for next year's car and that's partly the discussion over the next couple of weekends and giving feedback to the guys who are designing the parts for next year.
"[I am] pointing out to them where we can improve on the actual chassis side and the aerodynamic package, and of course, they're working hard to improve our engine for next year.
"I think if we're able to get to the [Mercedes and Red Bull power units] with the engine, we're obviously going to be fighting for wins in the races."
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Hamilton explains Ferrari focus
Further explaining the work going on at Maranello for the 2027 machine, Hamilton spoke of the "subtle" changes he felt were required.
"It started probably a month ago, but this is the time where you actually start needing to make decisions and saying: 'Okay, these are the areas we're losing [out in]," he said.
"'These are the areas that if you fix for next year, [it is worth] half a tenth in every corner', and these are the areas that we're struggling with.
"'[Or] this is where I want the aero balance to be for next year,' but there is not a huge amount of things.
"I think we've got a really good package, so it is keeping the good things on the car, and rectifying a couple of these small, subtle differences."
Also interesting:
Join RacingNews365's Ian Parkes, Sam Coop and Nick Golding as they look back on the United States GP and look ahead to Mexico City! Red Bull's return of gearbox gremlins is a lead discussion, as is Kimi Antonelli being just days away from becoming world champion.
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