Lewis Hamilton believes Ferrari is making progress because he trusted his own experience instead of the simulator. Following Ferrari’s convincing performance, the seven-time world champion explained why he has stepped away from relying on the team’s simulator, saying its recommendations often failed to match the real car on track.The comments came just days after Hamilton also made headlines for a rare public mention of Kim Kardashian during a fan Q&A at Silverstone. While that moment quickly went viral, his latest explanation offered a clearer picture of how Ferrari found the setup that helped deliver its first double podium of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Lewis Hamilton says Ferrari’s setup direction proved him right after Silverstone success
Speaking to reporters, Lewis Hamilton said he and his engineers deliberately ignored the simulator’s suggested setup. Instead, they stuck with a direction built from his own experience behind the wheel.“I mean, up until now, we really have been making such great progress,” Hamilton told reporters. He further added, “The simulator said that we should start in a much different place with the set-up, and my engineers and I decided to stay within the direction that we would normally go. Charles started the way it was, that the sim would say to go, and then ended up my philosophy.”Hamilton believes that decision played a major role in Ferrari’s weekend. Charles Leclerc eventually switched to a setup closer to Hamilton’s preference before taking victory at Silverstone. Hamilton finished third after the late Safety Car changed the order, but Ferrari still secured its first 1-3 finish of the season.Hamilton first raised concerns about Ferrari’s simulator after the Miami Grand Prix in May 2026, saying the virtual setup and the real SF-26 did not correlate. Instead of following the simulator before Silverstone, he and his engineers trusted a familiar setup direction. Leclerc later moved toward the same philosophy, and Ferrari walked away with its strongest result of the season, giving Hamilton another reason to stand by his decision.Also, Lewis Hamilton had already become a talking point away from the track. During a fan Q&A at Silverstone ahead of the British Grand Prix, an interviewer joked that Hamilton looked “much happier this year” and asked whether it was because of a “fast car or new girlfriend.” The question referred to his reported relationship with Kim Kardashian.Lewis Hamilton laughed and replied, “That’s a good one,” before discussing Ferrari’s progress. As he wrapped up his answer, he added, “and of course, of course, Kim.” The brief remark spread quickly online because it marked one of the few times he publicly acknowledged Kardashian since reports linked the pair earlier this year.Even with the attention surrounding Kim Kardashian, Hamilton made it clear that Ferrari remains his biggest priority. The Briton said the team’s current direction is working but stressed that more upgrades will be needed if Ferrari wants to continue closing the gap in the championship
