Absolutely. Hamilton uses weight transfer and centre of pressure movement to rotate the car to a greater degree than many do. Both of these things were engineered out of the "tunnel" cars simply because the cars didn't work if you allow the CoP to move around. Interestingly, when Hamilton and Rosberg were at Mercedes, I remember Hamilton admitting that at some circuits Rosberg was quicker simply because he naturally carried speed through the corners where Hamilton didn't - Hamilton's lap time was found in the braking and rotation zones of the corners. Rosberg would have probably shone with the tunnel cars just as Russell did. Likewise someone like Button who also had a very traditional approach to corners. Russell has also admitted that he's not getting on with the current cars because they don't suit his style.venkyhere wrote: ↑15 Jun 2026, 18:19
Some of us (incl yours truly) had posted the same opinion in 2025, in this very thread - that HAM needs a car that's soft enough to 'dive' under hard braking to make his corner rotation, because he's a driver that's always preferred optimizing the entry into a corner rather than the exit out of. That 'late braking style' is baked into his driving, and with these 2026 era car, he is reaping the benefits of it. Hamilton has always made bold but well-informed career choices, and though Sainz uses the word 'luck' (sour grapes perhaps) I would rather say it was because he was told by Ferrari what kind of car and how well tailored it would be towards his needs, that drove his decision. Well done, Hamilton. (I also think he would have been absolutely at ease with the W17 as well, had he not switched teams).
There is form for this in years passed - Vettel absolutely monstered the blown diffuser gap cars because it suited his style of getting the car turned and throttle down AASAP - with the blown diffuser gap, hitting the throttle hard, early, actually helped the rear at a time when traditionally you're waiting for the rear to settle. Webber never really got on with it - and was slower than Vettel once this blowing scheme was fully implemented. And conversely, once the blowing was removed, Vettel absolutely struggled - very reminiscent of Hamilton's woes when the tunnel cars came in. It reminds me of Mansell and Patrese in the FW14B - Patrese never got to grips with the way the car responded where Mansell just took it on faith that the thing would grip. The lack of traditional feedback to the driver caused by the suspension took away one of the things Patrese needed to feel the grip. Mansell just bullied the car in to corners and believed.
