Lewis Hamilton makes Ferrari demand over 2026 F1 car

Lewis Hamilton is working to ensure next year's Ferrari F1 car has “some of my DNA” incorporated into the design.

F1 will undergo a major regulation shift next year with changes coming for both the chassis and the power unit.

Hamilton is hopeful he will be in the hunt for a record-breaking eighth F1 title, having struggled for pace at times during his opening stint with Ferrari.

The 40-year-old has largely been out-paced by team-mate Charles Leclerc, who is currently partaking in his seventh year with the Italian squad.

Hamilton admitted he has been forced to run closer to Leclerc's set-up preferences in order to extract the most out of the challenger.

“This year, with this car, we have a lot of different tools and ways in which we can set the car up,” Hamilton told media including RacingNews365.

“Obviously Charles has been here for a long time, and he’s been a part of evolving and developing this car. He’s very accustomed to it.

“They’ve found and he has found one way in which the car works. I tried all the other directions that should work, but they just don’t, just for whatever reasons.

“I’ve slowly migrated to the place where Charles runs the car.”

However, Hamilton has highlighted it is not the direction he wants to continue for 2026 when he will embark on his second season in red.

“It’s a tough balance to drive and it’s not a comfortable one,” Hamilton conceded. “It’s not one that I want to have in future.

“So I’m working with Loic and with all the guys in the factory to make sure that the next car will have, naturally, some of my DNA in it.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to get some of the characteristics that I’m hoping to have in next year.”