Hamilton: Ferrari 'fighting for second' and using final five races as a 2027 test bench
Lewis Hamilton says there is 'a good vibe' at Ferrari as the team chases second in the Constructors' championship, with a podium in each of the last three races.
- 2nd
- 5
- 3
- 2027
What Happened
Lewis Hamilton met the media in Mexico City on 29 October 2026 ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix, where he spoke about the progress Scuderia Ferrari HP has made this season and the positive mood inside the team. He said the team is fighting for second place in the Constructors' championship and that, between himself and Charles Leclerc, Ferrari has been on the podium in each of the last three races. Hamilton added that the team has come a long way and that he believes there is more to come.
“There's a good vibe, there's a good energy. We're enjoying this year much more. We're fighting for second in the Constructors' championship and, between Charles and myself, we've been on the podium in each of the last three races. We've come a long way and I think there's more to come.”
Hamilton said he is proud of the team for continuing to push this year, pointing to innovation and to parts being brought to the car efficiently. Everything the team has worked hard on has added performance, which he described as what you want to see. He said the aim is to hold on to that energy and that drive for next year.
- Secure second place in the Constructors' championship, which Hamilton says the team deserves
- Use the final five races as a test bench for next year's car
- Keep the good things the car has this year while looking at where to improve
- Carry the strong performance from the last race into the Mexico City weekend
“My sole focus is on making sure that we secure second in the Constructors' championship because I think the team deserves it. It's a huge step forward from last year and something that we can build on for next year. I'm really using these five races as a test bench for next year's car, looking at where we can improve and how we can keep the good things we have in the car this year.”
Looking at the weekend, Hamilton said the unusual characteristics of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez make the competitive order difficult to predict. He expects everyone to be on maximum downforce. If the team can get the tyres switched on, he believes the car should be good, and he hopes to continue the strong performance from the last race into this weekend.
Previously from Ferrari N.V.
Our earlier coverage noted that Scuderia Ferrari HP headed to the Mexico City Grand Prix, round 19 of the season, aiming to carry recent momentum into the weekend. That preview highlighted the 2,285-metre altitude of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez as a defining factor for the event.
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of Ferrari N.V.'s official releases.
Why this matters
Ferrari is fighting for second in the Formula 1 Constructors' championship, with Hamilton and Charles Leclerc on the podium in each of the last three races — a gain Hamilton calls a huge step forward from last year. Hamilton says his focus is the team result, and he is treating the remaining five races as a test bench for the 2027 car, so the rest of this season shapes next year's challenge for the team and its rivals.
Terms in This Story
- Constructors' championship
- The Formula 1 team championship, in which the points scored by both of a team's cars count toward the team's total.
- Downforce
- Aerodynamic force that pushes a racing car down onto the track, increasing grip and cornering speed.
- Drivers' standings
- The championship table ranking individual drivers by the points they have scored over the season.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.