Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari): “I can’t ask any more of my team”

Unbelievable but true: seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has lifted the winner’s trophy at 32 different Grand Prix circuits!

But there are still a few blemishes on his record: at Zandvoort, for example, he has never won – it is one of four circuits on the 2026 World Championship calendar where Hamilton has yet to claim a Grand Prix victory.

Hamilton is therefore under pressure at Zandvoort: this historic Grand Prix is set to take place for the last time for the time being, so if Hamilton wants to add the dune circuit to his tally as number 33, he’ll have to strike this weekend.

The other circuits where Hamilton has yet to claim a Grand Prix victory are: Miami, Mexico City and Las Vegas. But in Florida, Central America and the gamblers’ paradise, Lewis still has several opportunities in 2026 and beyond to improve his record.

Ahead of the weekend on the North Sea coast, Lewis Hamilton says: “It’s true, I’ve won here in Formula 3, but never in a Grand Prix car. That’s definitely a real motivational boost. I want to put that right.”

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Hamilton is asked about Max Verstappen’s contract extension. Lewis says: “To be honest, I haven’t given it too much thought, but of course it’s fabulous news for Formula 1. What else could it be?”

“Max has been with the same team for a long time. Sometimes that’s a good thing, sometimes not so much. For him, it’s certainly a good choice. Because we’ve seen time and again that drivers who have changed teams haven’t always come out better for it.”

Hamilton is currently second in the championship standings; he’s getting on much better with the 2026 Ferrari than he did with last year’s car from Maranello. Where does Lewis want to improve from here? “There are still plenty of areas where we can improve. But I’m really proud of the step we’ve taken from 2025 to 2026 and how we’ve managed to get faster as the season has progressed.”

“Whenever new regulations are introduced, we always see one team or another falter. That hasn’t happened at Ferrari. I see a great deal of self-confidence within the team; I can sense a firm belief that we can continue to grow. As far as the development of the race car and our mindset are concerned, I couldn’t ask for more from my team. We know exactly what we’re capable of; now we need to put that into practice in the second half of the season.”

Hamilton talks about why he’ll be able to contribute more effectively in 2026. “We’ve changed so many things here; it’s not just about the race car, it’s also about the team’s processes. It took almost a year for Ferrari and me to work in harmony, but now the work of the past year is starting to pay off.”

“To see at the start of the 2026 season that the many changes I wanted to implement are finally bearing fruit, that my concerns were justified and that the changes are delivering better results – all of that is a massive morale boost. That’s the foundation I wanted to lay with Ferrari. We can now build on that for the years to come. And that’s what drives me.”

During the summer break, Hamilton “worked harder than ever before. Normally, you have a bit of a party in the first week – and maybe the second too – to clear your head. I focused on working more on myself. I’m fitter than I’ve ever been in the past twenty years. I’m full of energy rather than just feeling rested – I feel great.”