Lewis Hamilton, the 41‑year‑old seven‑time champion, has publicly urged Ferrari to close the power gap in their power unit as the team looks ahead to the 2027 Formula 1 season. Hamilton, who is still chasing an unprecedented eighth world title, believes that the Italian outfit must improve its engine performance if they are to mount a serious challenge next year. Hamilton’s optimism was sparked by a surprise victory at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona in June, a race that gave many fans hope that the British driver could reignite his title ambitions for 2026. However, after the summer hiatus his form slipped, and the points deficit to the leading Mercedes driver, Kimi Antonelli, swelled to well over a hundred points.
The gap underscored the limitations of the current Ferrari package, especially in terms of outright power. The British driver snapped a six‑race podium drought with a third‑place finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia on Sunday. A sub‑optimal tyre choice on the opening lap prevented him from fully exploiting his strong pace, and he was unable to mount a sustained battle with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen for the win. Nevertheless, the podium finish gave Hamilton a platform to explain why he remains confident in the team’s direction.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Hamilton said, "Fundamentally, we have a great car, and that’s down to an amazing group of people back at the factory who are incredibly intelligent and have made the right decisions. We’ve been innovators this year, introducing concepts that other teams have later adopted.
The only area where we’re clearly lagging is power, and we have to live with that shortfall for the rest of the season. The goal is to catch up for next year." He acknowledged that the power deficit is a real handicap, but he stressed that the team’s engineering talent and willingness to experiment give him hope that the gap can be narrowed.
Hamilton’s remarks came amid a flurry of headlines about the Bahrain event, including debates over a software glitch on the formation lap, penalties that affected other drivers such as George Russell, and broader criticism of FIA procedures. With seven rounds remaining in the 2026 calendar, beginning with the inaugural Sprint race in Singapore this weekend, Hamilton believes the car is still on an upward trajectory. "The car is improving, and I think we have races ahead where we can get a little closer to the front‑runners," he added.
"We keep pushing, I’m still enjoying the racing, I feel fit and focused." The lead‑up to the Bahrain Grand Prix was dominated by speculation about Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur’s future, after former Red Bull boss Christian Horner expressed interest in the role. Ferrari publicly reaffirmed its support for Vasseur, while Hamilton criticized the negative narrative surrounding the team. He said, "I hope the chatter doesn’t get too negative after Malaysia. We still scored solid points with third and fourth places." Vasseur responded with a measured perspective, noting that it’s easy to stay calm when the team is performing well, but the real test is maintaining composure when results falter.
"The most important thing is to be solid when things don’t go our way. Everyone has tough weekends – McLaren, for example, had high expectations and struggled. In those moments you have to react as a team and stay together," he said.
Looking ahead, the championship will head to Singapore for the final Sprint weekend of the season, with live coverage on Sky Sports F1. The Singapore race offers another opportunity for Hamilton and Ferrari to demonstrate progress, and for the team to gather data that could inform the development of the 2027 power unit.
Hamilton’s message to the Ferrari engineers is clear: the foundation of the car is strong, the personnel are world‑class, and the only missing piece is the horsepower needed to compete consistently with Mercedes and Red Bull. If they can deliver a more powerful and reliable engine for the next season, Hamilton’s quest for an eighth title could very well stay alive.