Hamilton Says No to Special Treatment at Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton is a seven-time Formula 1 World Champion contracted to Scuderia Ferrari for the 2026 F1 season. In September 2026, Hamilton publicly declined any form of preferential treatment over teammate Charles Leclerc, despite sitting 76 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli with 258 points still available across 10 remaining rounds. The entity at the centre of this story is Hamilton's racing relationship with Ferrari — specifically, his insistence on equal driver hierarchy. For Malaysian audiences, this narrative is significant because Ferrari remains one of the most followed F1 teams in Southeast Asia, with Malaysian fans typically tracking races through Astro's sports channels or F1 TV.

Key Facts

The critical facts of Lewis Hamilton's 2026 F1 season include his 76-point deficit to championship leader Kimi Antonelli, his status as Ferrari's strongest title challenger, and his record of never finishing outside the top six in any Grand Prix this season. Ferrari had also failed to secure a single pole position as of the Italian Grand Prix.

Hamilton remains 76 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli, with 258 points still available across 10 remaining F1 rounds in 2026.

What Is Lewis Hamilton's 2026 Championship Outlook?

Lewis Hamilton enters the final 10 rounds of the 2026 F1 season 76 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli. With a maximum of 258 points still available, Hamilton's title hopes remain mathematically alive, and he stands as Ferrari's stronger challenger compared to teammate Charles Leclerc, who trails by 112 points.

According to Careta.my, Hamilton's consistency is the foundation of his title bid. He is the only driver who has finished every Grand Prix this season inside the top 10, and he has never finished outside the top six in any race. This consistency is particularly notable because Ferrari has not secured a single pole position during 2026, leaving Hamilton to extract maximum results from a car that lacks outright qualifying pace.

Hamilton is the only driver in 2026 who has finished every Grand Prix inside the top 10, and he has never placed outside the top six.

Why Is Hamilton Refusing Special Treatment at Ferrari?

Hamilton has explicitly rejected the suggestion that Ferrari should prioritise his championship bid over Charles Leclerc's. When asked whether Ferrari should concentrate all team efforts on him and assign Leclerc a supporting role, Hamilton dismissed the proposal, emphasising that both drivers must work together for the team's best interests.

"That's not actually what I'm asking for. What matters is making sure we do our job well to get the best result for the team. Rather than competing among ourselves and finishing the race in fourth and fifth, maybe we could work together to step onto the podium and score more points."

— Lewis Hamilton, as quoted by Motorsport.com, reported by Careta.my, 11 September 2026

The 36-point gap between Hamilton and Leclerc — with Hamilton ahead — would conventionally justify a team-order approach, but Hamilton's public stance indicates a preference for collaborative racing over a hierarchical structure. This position is notable given his repeated ambition to secure an eighth world title.

Hamilton holds a 36-point advantage over Leclerc yet has categorically declined any form of preferential treatment at Ferrari.

How Significant Is Ferrari's Straight-Line Speed Deficit?

Ferrari continues to trail Mercedes in straight-line speed during the 2026 F1 season, with Mercedes reported to be up to 0.6 seconds faster per lap on straights in the most recent race. On most other circuits, Ferrari loses between 0.3 and 0.4 seconds per lap on straight sections, according to Careta.my.

Hamilton acknowledged the shortfall while praising the team's response: "We've done a very good job despite that shortcoming and we continue to improve the car. We've also made improvements to the engine. We know the last engine upgrade is not the full solution that will close that gap completely. However, the continuous progress the team has shown is something positive."

Ferrari's lack of a single pole position in 2026 underscores the scale of the performance gap. Hamilton's ability to remain in title contention despite this deficiency demonstrates both his consistency and Ferrari's progress in race-day reliability and strategy.

Mercedes holds a straight-line advantage of up to 0.6 seconds per lap over Ferrari, while Ferrari loses 0.3–0.4 seconds per lap on straights at most circuits in 2026.

Who Is This For in Malaysia?

Malaysian Formula 1 enthusiasts who follow the 2026 season through Astro's sports channels or F1 TV are the primary audience for this coverage. Malaysia hosted the F1 Grand Prix at Sepang International Circuit from 2000 to 2017, cementing Ferrari's popularity among local fans during that era, and motorsport culture in the country remains active.

The 10 remaining rounds include night races and European circuits that broadcast in Malaysian evening or late-night time slots, making weekend F1 viewing an established ritual for dedicated fans. Hamilton's championship chase is a defining storyline of 2026 for Malaysian audiences, who have long followed his career arc from McLaren to Mercedes and now Ferrari. The combination of a seven-time champion fighting against a 76-point deficit without demanding team priority resonates as a sportsmanship-driven narrative.

Malaysian F1 fans following Ferrari's 2026 campaign will find Hamilton's title chase — built on consistency rather than outright speed — one of the season's most compelling narratives.

Common Questions

Does Lewis Hamilton want Ferrari to give him special treatment over Charles Leclerc?

No. Hamilton explicitly rejected the idea that Ferrari should prioritise his championship bid over Leclerc. He stated that the priority is ensuring both drivers work together to achieve the best results for the team, rather than competing against each other for individual honours.

Can Lewis Hamilton still win the 2026 F1 championship?

Mathematically, yes. Hamilton trails Kimi Antonelli by 76 points with 258 points still available across the remaining 10 rounds. He is Ferrari's strongest challenger, holding a 36-point advantage over Leclerc, but will require consistent podium finishes and Mercedes errors to close the gap.

Why has Ferrari not closed the gap to Mercedes in 2026?

Ferrari has not secured a single pole position in 2026 and loses between 0.3 and 0.4 seconds per lap to Mercedes on straights. Hamilton acknowledged that the latest engine upgrade was never expected to fully close the performance gap, and that continued incremental development remains the team's strategy.

Hamilton's refusal of priority treatment at Ferrari distinguishes him from conventional number-one driver arrangements in Formula 1 team dynamics.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based primarily on the report titled "Lewis Hamilton Tidak Mahu DiBeri Layanan Istimewa Oleh Ferrari" published by Careta.my on 11 September 2026, written by Qalif Latif. The original report cites Motorsport.com as the source for Hamilton's direct quotes. No currency conversions were required because the source contained no financial or pricing data. All championship statistics, race results, driver quotes, and performance deficits are presented as reported in the source material. Malaysian context regarding F1 viewing platforms and the Sepang International Circuit's history is provided as supplementary framing and does not originate from the source article. This article was last updated on 11 September 2026.