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Hamilton Disputes Ground Effect Struggles Amid Renewed F1 Form
Lewis Hamilton has pushed back against the widespread belief that he struggled to adapt to Formula 1's ground-effect machinery, attributing his recent resurgence to the lighter, more forgiving cars of the current generation.
By Lesley Bakker - 2026-08-16T18:00:00.000Z - 3 min read
Lewis Hamilton has challenged the prevailing narrative surrounding his performance during the ground-effect era of Formula 1, firmly refuting claims that he failed to master the distinctive characteristics of those cars. The British driver, now enjoying a noticeable upturn in form, insists his results from 2022 to 2025 were still superior to most of his competitors on the grid.
The ground-effect regulations, introduced in 2022, marked a significant shift in F1 car design, aiming to increase aerodynamic grip through underbody airflow. While Hamilton had previously dominated the sport from 2014 to 2021, securing six world titles, his subsequent four years saw a reduced win tally of just two victories. His tenure at Mercedes during this period was challenging, particularly with the team's unique zero sidepod concept that struggled to deliver expected downforce levels.
Even after his move to Ferrari, Hamilton’s initial performance dipped, finding himself consistently outpaced by teammate Charles Leclerc, who secured seven podiums while Hamilton concluded a season without any silverware. However, the seven-time world champion now suggests that the general perception of his struggles during this phase might be overstated, pointing out his race-winning record compared to other drivers.
Hamilton’s current season paints a different picture, with a palpable rejuvenation in his driving. He credits this renewed momentum to the characteristics of the latest generation of F1 cars, which he describes as lighter and more nimble. "I can drive it a little bit more like the previous generation of cars," Hamilton explained, highlighting a more familiar feel behind the wheel.
He elaborated that his approach to winning races has remained consistent, regardless of the car generation. The key difference, he notes, lies in the vehicle's inherent nature. These newer cars are less prone to bouncing, offering a more forgiving and easier driving experience. This stands in contrast to the earlier ground-effect machines, which demanded constant, intricate adjustments to throttle and power delivery.
The intricacies of power application were a major focus during the ground-effect era, requiring significant work and tuning with engineers. Hamilton described the throttle control as an "element you have to do with the engineers," where even slight variations in throttle input – half, off, or partial – could drastically alter power deployment through a lap. This level of granular control, he said, was far more crucial than simple drivability, consuming a considerable amount of a driver's mental bandwidth.
With the current cars requiring less of this intense management, Hamilton finds he can focus more on his natural driving style, akin to his earlier, dominant years. This shift has seemingly unlocked his confidence and allowed him to lead Ferrari's charge, underlining his belief that his driving capabilities were never the root cause of his previous perceived dip in form.