Lewis Hamilton has made his priorities clear to Ferrari ahead of the 2027 Formula 1 season, insisting that improving the team’s engine performance must be the biggest priority if the Scuderia want to return to championship contention.
The seven-time world champion joined Ferrari with the ambition of securing an unprecedented eighth Drivers’ Championship, but his second season in red has not delivered the results he hoped for. With the 2026 title almost certain to go to Mercedes youngster Kimi Antonelli, Hamilton believes Ferrari must address a significant performance deficit before the next campaign.
Heading into the Mexican Grand Prix, Hamilton sits third in the Drivers’ Championship, just one point behind Mercedes rival George Russell. However, both drivers are effectively out of the title fight, with Antonelli needing only a small number of points to secure the championship.
HAMILTON IDENTIFIES FERRARI’S BIGGEST PROBLEM
Hamilton believes Ferrari have shown enough potential this season to suggest that they could have challenged for the championship with a stronger power unit.
Speaking ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix, the British driver explained that he is already heavily involved in discussions about next year’s car, focusing on retaining the positive aspects of the current package while improving its weaknesses.
He said:
“I’m really focused right now on next year’s car, looking at the good things from this year and making sure we don’t lose them, but instead add to the chassis. And then, of course, in the background, I’m pushing as hard as I can to make sure we come with a power unit that can compete with Mercedes and Red Bull.”
Hamilton’s message was particularly clear when he identified the engine as Ferrari’s number one development priority.
“The engine is probably number one [priority]. We’ve got reliability, which is good. But if we were matching the power of the others we would be fighting for the championship this year, which we know.”
His comments highlight the importance of closing the power deficit rather than simply making small improvements to the car’s overall balance.
FERRARI HAVE WON RACES BUT FAILED TO MAINTAIN THEIR MOMENTUM
Ferrari have not endured a completely disappointing campaign. There have been moments when the Italian team looked capable of challenging Mercedes and Red Bull, with Hamilton securing victory in Barcelona and Charles Leclerc winning at Silverstone.
Those results raised expectations that Ferrari could become serious championship contenders.
However, the team struggled to maintain that momentum. A difficult period after the summer break saw Ferrari lose ground in the competitive order, while McLaren and Red Bull also demonstrated the ability to challenge for victories.
The United States Grand Prix provided another example of Ferrari’s inconsistent execution. The team appeared particularly strong during practice, topping all three sessions in Austin, but failed to convert that pace into the qualifying performance needed to fight for victory.
Although its race pace remained competitive, starting further down the grid made the challenge considerably harder.
For Hamilton, these missed opportunities underline the need for improvements across several areas, not just the engine.
HAMILTON DEMANDS A WIDER PERFORMANCE WINDOW
Beyond the power unit, Hamilton also wants Ferrari to improve the aerodynamic performance and consistency of its next-generation car.
He explained that the current chassis has a relatively narrow operating window. When the team gets the setup right, the car can be competitive, but finding that ideal balance consistently has proved difficult.
Hamilton said:
“I know everyone is working flat out at the factory to try to do that, and I trust them completely in that process. It won’t be easy, but it’s possible.”
He also highlighted the importance of increasing downforce and making the car easier to operate across different conditions.
This is a crucial area for Ferrari because a car that performs well only within a narrow setup window can become difficult to manage when track temperatures, tyre behaviour or circuit characteristics change.
A wider operating window would give Hamilton and Leclerc greater flexibility during practice and qualifying, potentially reducing the risk of losing performance when conditions are not ideal.
MEXICO COULD OFFER FERRARI AN OPPORTUNITY
Ferrari will now turn its attention to the Mexican Grand Prix, where the unusual conditions could create an opportunity to challenge Mercedes and Red Bull.
The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez sits approximately 2,200 metres above sea level. The thinner air at that altitude affects engine performance, cooling and aerodynamic efficiency, creating a different technical challenge from most other circuits.
George Russell suggested that Ferrari could be particularly competitive in Mexico because of the potential impact of altitude on the rival power units.
Leclerc, however, was more cautious about declaring Ferrari the favourites.
He acknowledged the team’s positive momentum following Singapore and Austin but insisted that Mercedes remained the benchmark.
Leclerc also stressed that Ferrari would need to maximise every aspect of its package to have a realistic chance of fighting for victory.
His comments reflect a recurring problem for the Scuderia this season: having enough speed to compete is not always the same as executing a perfect weekend.
HAMILTON WANTS TO END THE SEASON ON A HIGH
Despite already looking towards 2027, Hamilton has not given up on the remaining races of the current campaign.
The British driver wants Ferrari to finish the season strongly, believing that the team and its employees deserve a positive conclusion after a challenging year.
With only a handful of races remaining, every opportunity to secure another victory or podium finish matters.
A strong finish could also provide valuable momentum heading into the winter development programme, especially as Ferrari works to close the gap to Mercedes and Red Bull.
Hamilton has made it clear that he trusts the people working at the factory, but his message also places responsibility on Ferrari to deliver meaningful improvements.
2027 COULD BE A DEFINING SEASON FOR HAMILTON AND FERRARI
Hamilton’s latest comments reveal how important the next development cycle will be for his Ferrari ambitions.
At 41, he cannot afford another season in which the team repeatedly shows flashes of potential without converting them into consistent championship-winning performances.
Ferrari have already demonstrated that they can win races, but competing for the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships requires a much more complete package.
The power unit, chassis performance, aerodynamic efficiency and race execution will all need to improve if they are to challenge Mercedes and Red Bull consistently.
Hamilton’s demand is therefore more than a complaint about engine performance. It is a clear message about what he believes Ferrari must change to give him another realistic opportunity to fight for the biggest prize in Formula 1.
The seven-time champion still believes the project can succeed. However, the pressure is now on Ferrari to turn that belief into results before another championship opportunity slips away.
