Ferrari F1: Lewis Hamilton increasingly impatient, gives ultimatum

Lewis Hamilton no longer intends to mince his words. Halfway through the 2025 season, with results still elusive, the seven-time world champion is publicly venting his frustration. With his increasingly firm statements, the Briton is issuing a veritable ultimatum to the French team. Scuderia : there's no way we'll get off to another disappointing start in 2026.

A weekend in Canada as a trigger

It was at the Canadian Grand Prix that the tone turned up a notch. After a lacklustre race, which finished in sixth place, Hamilton spoke unfiltered to the microphone of Sky Sports F1. "Are you asking the team to make improvements? Of course I do. We've seen other people do it. I don't know why we don't," he says, clearly at his wits' end. He even mentions "a lot of things in the background" that he can't reveal.

More than 100 points behind the championship leaders, the goal of 2025 already seems out of reach. And Hamilton makes no secret of the fact: "We're clearly not fighting for the championship. I want to make sure that next year's car is much better, right from the first race."

This last sentence sounds like a clear warning. In 2026, Ferrari will have no room for error. Hamilton demands a competitive single-seater from the start of the season, under the new regulations that will reshuffle the cards. Failing that, the champion's patience may soon reach its limits.

Rosberg confirms

Asked to comment on the situation, Nico Rosberg, Hamilton's former teammate and rival, only confirms the mounting pressure. "He's getting more and more impatient, obviously. He thought he was building on the momentum of late 2024. And we're making him wait now with the developments," he observes.

The German insists on one crucial point: the upgrade planned for Silverstone, Hamilton's stronghold, could be the last hope. "All hopes rest on the Silverstone upgrade. It has to work."

Beyond that, Rosberg is adamant that Ferrari should already be looking ahead to 2026, and putting all its resources into Project 678, the Scuderia's future F1 car. "They need to focus 100 % on next year. That's where the opportunity lies."

Hamilton aims for leadership

Since his arrival at Ferrari, Hamilton has been very much involved in the team's transformation. He has established himself as a true leader, whereas Charles Leclerc remains more discreet, although he too is frustrated by questionable strategic choices, as in Montreal with the famous "Plan B" imposed by the team.

Hamilton wants more: more responsiveness, more transparency, more long-term vision. And above all, results. Fast. In a team still rebuilding, the Englishman is now setting the bar very high for 2026. And the message is clear: there's no question of missing the boat like in 2025.