Lewis Hamilton set for new Ferrari role as disastrous season continues

Lewis Hamilton has been set up for a new role early in his Ferrari career, as the team look to next year's rule changes.

The seven-time world champion left Mercedes over the winter to join the Scuderia, who ended 2024 as the hottest team in the sport in the second half of the season, but things haven't gone to plan thus far.

His chances of a historic eighth drivers' title are already over for another year, while the squad are more than 200 points behind defending champions McLaren in the constructors' standings with less than half the season in the books.

And according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the team are already turning their attention to 2026, with Hamilton set to be central to their plans as new regulations sweep the sport.

"Hamilton is focusing on the indications regarding the car's suspension, a key element for making the floor work, obtaining maximum aerodynamic load and effective balance - precisely what the red car has lacked so far," the report reads.

"Finding a solution is important, because some concepts can be transferred to the next car, which will instead be totally different in other areas.

"Hamilton's experience could prove to be fundamental at this stage. He arrived at Ferrari with a huge amount of knowledge gained in 18 seasons in Formula 1, particularly in the golden years when he dominated at the wheel of Mercedes.

"He brings testimony to a winning organizational model and wants to influence the team's next steps with new ideas.

"So far he hasn't succeeded, but it is the only hope that can still motivate him. He has a two-year contract, plus an option in his favour for 2027, but it is clear that if Ferrari were to be far from competitive he could decide to retire at the end of next season, given that he will then be almost 42 years old.

"This is why Lewis is trying with all his strength to contribute to a turning point in Maranello, giving meaning to [Ferrari executive chairman] John Elkann's project."

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Hamilton hopes for Silverstone spark

Hamilton currently sits sixth in the drivers' standings on 91 points, one place behind team-mate Charles Leclerc, and just ahead of the man who replaced him at Mercedes, Kimi Antonelli.

The 105-time race winner has cut a dejected figure throughout the campaign as he has struggled to put his finger on what has been going wrong.

Indeed, some pundits have suggested he may look to quit before the end of the year if performances don't improve, but Hamilton remains determined to turn his fortunes around.

His display at last weekend's Austrian Grand Prix offered signs of progress, qualifying and finishing in fourth spot, thus matching his best result of 2025.

He will be desperate to improve that statistic in front of his home fans at the British GP on a track which holds fond memories, not least last year's unexpected triumph.

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