Lewis Hamilton says the key to his Ferrari turnaround in the 2026 F1 season has been the team’s improved collaboration and the trust built between himself and the organisation.

After a difficult 2025 season, when Ferrari failed to win a race and Hamilton felt his input was not always being followed, the seven-time world champion said he worked to rebuild the relationship with Ferrari’s leadership and ensure they were “allies rather than foes.”

Hamilton credited several changes for the improvement, including helping develop the car, getting requested upgrades such as front suspension and brakes, restructuring parts of his engineering team, and aligning more closely with Ferrari’s senior figures.

He said the biggest difference was that his suggestions were now being acted upon:

“It’s taken a long time to build that trust, and I think that trust is now there and things that I ask for get done.”

Hamilton described the partnership as a shared effort:

“It’s a two-way street, naturally. We’re really pushing each other along and the collaboration is finally there and I think that’s the most important thing.”

He also praised Ferrari’s progress under the new 2026 regulations, saying the team had been on a “remarkable” trajectory and had achieved his goal of becoming an innovative force in Formula 1.

After previously struggling alongside Charles Leclerc, Hamilton has now emerged as a championship contender and secured his first Ferrari grand prix victory in Barcelona.