Lewis Hamilton has told the Ferrari Formula 1 team he does not want to get into a situation where he decides to ignore its strategy calls, after their conflicting views over the execution of the Austrian Grand Prix.
Ahead of the second pitstops at the Red Bull Ring last weekend, Ferrari called Hamilton in for his final set of mediums – but he argued his hard rubber was in good shape and he could continue and switch to a one-stop strategy.
Ferrari stood firm and ordered Hamilton in, ensuring his fourth-place finish behind team-mate Charles Leclerc. However, he had been convinced that staying out could have offered more opportunity, especially if the safety car had come out.
Hamilton felt that the events that played out in Austria were something that the team needed to clear up, which is why he has held talks with Ferrari in the build up to the British Grand Prix.
He wants a better mutual understanding of their approach to racing, and how much risk taking they should be willing to take in the quest for better finishing positions.
"I think the team's best view was they just wanted to make sure they secured third and fourth, which is totally fine," explained Hamilton at Silverstone.
"I said, 'look, I'm not here to start fourth and finish fourth. I'm racing for every little bit that we can gain.'
"In a scenario like that, for example, both of us [Ferrari drivers] were on the same strategy. I think we went both medium, hard, medium. I said I would have done medium, medium, hard, so at least I was offset at the end.
"I'd never want to do the same thing as my team-mate ever. And in that last stint, for example, we were not under pressure from the cars behind.
"They said, 'yeah, we would have got overtaken by Charles towards the end.' But I said: 'well, there could have been a safety car, and in that point there was no risk in taking the gamble.'"
Hamilton explained how critical it was that the team sorted out its approach prior to races playing out, as he did not want matters to reach a point where he felt he had to overrule an order from the pitwall.
"I said: 'I don't want to get to a point where I'm ignoring you.'
"So what we're doing is working on our communication and we're still getting to know each other, how we like to operate. And that's understood."
Set-up shift
Hamilton enjoyed his most competitive grand prix of the season so far in Austria, as he qualified and finished in fourth place.
As well as being helped by the upgraded floor that Ferrari brought to the Red Bull Ring, Hamilton also revealed the importance of a shift in set-up approach as he moved the closest he has been to Leclerc's direction.
Leclerc has talked this season about trialling some "extreme" settings in a bid to overcome Ferrari's weaknesses, but has not elaborated on the specifics.
Reflecting on the step forward in Austria, Hamilton said: "We have lots of different tools and ways in which we can set the car up.
"Obviously, Charles has been here for a long time, and he's been a part of evolving, developing this car. He's very accustomed to it, and he's found one way in which the car works. I've tried all the other directions that should work, but they just don't, for whatever reason.
"I've slowly migrated to the place where Charles does run the car, and last week was the closest [to it], and our pace was the closest it has ever been.
"It is still tough. It's a tough balance to drive, and it's not a comfortable one. It's not one that I want to have in future."
Hamilton said that he has been consulting technical director Loic Serra to help make some characteristics changes for Ferrari's 2026 design.
"I'm working with Loic and with all the guys at the factory to make sure that the next car will have, naturally, some of my DNA in it," he said.
"And hopefully we'll be able to get some of the characteristics that I'm hoping to have in next year."
