Lewis Hamilton 'released' after shouting 'from top of Ferrari mountain'

Lewis Hamilton has described how he now feels "released" to do what he "does best" after shouting "from the top of the mountain" regarding changes Ferrari needed to make.

At the summer break of his second season at Maranello, Hamilton is second in the drivers' championship, 59 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli with one win and four further podiums from the opening 11 rounds of the season. 

This is in contrast to the worst season of his career in his debut year in Ferrari red, in which he failed to score a single grand prix podium for the first time, and even suggested the team should "sign another driver" after a galling Hungarian GP qualifying.

However, Hamilton has bounced back in 2026, and has looked rejuvenated, with the Briton speaking highly of the changes boss Fred Vasseur has managed to push through at his behest, including the use of Carbon Industrie brake discs. 

Ferrari has had a long relationship with Brembo, but Hamilton is more accustomed to the feeling of CI discs, having used them throughout his 12-year stay at Mercedes, with confidence under braking, so long a Hamilton trademark, one of his biggest gripes with the SF-25 of last season. 

Ferrari is continuing to use the CI-Brembo hybrid brake system, with Hamilton also more in-tune with the 2026 cars, with the old ground effect machines never truly suiting his driving style, but he feels the overriding factor in his positive outlook are the changes he demanded and forced through by Vasseur. 

"I think it's more to do with the fact that when you're in a scenario where you know what's needed to improve, and you shout it from the top of a mountain, and it doesn't get done necessarily, because it can't be done immediately, or it takes months to develop, or it can't happen to the next year, because of the regulations, whatever it may be, it's like banging your head against the wall," Hamilton told media including RacingNews365 when asked how happier he is coming to races with a competitive car after the 2025 struggles.

"It's tough, so it's nice to be in a period where, for example, last year one of the things I was like was: 'Where is our innovation?' Ferrari should be the innovators; they should be the ones that all the teams are trying to copy. 

"This year you see us arrive with innovative things that other people have followed, and there is a lot more innovation coming, which is really exciting.

"I think probably the fact that I'm now starting to see some of those things happen, and Fred has really been great with working with me and helping make certain changes that I've wanted, and that just kind of releases you to get out and do what you do best."