Hamilton looks ahead to a fresh start with Ferrari – After a challenging first season with the team, Lewis Hamilton is looking ahead to 2026 with renewed hope. The seven-time world champion struggled to adapt to his new car last year, ultimately finishing sixth in the Formula 1 standings.
For a driver of Hamilton’s calibre, this was well below expectations, but the British driver is determined to turn things around as he embarks on his second year with the Scuderia. Meanwhile, the team makes an official announcement.
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A Season to Forget
Hamilton’s debut season in red was marred by technical setbacks and reliability issues that hindered his performance. Hamilton, renowned for his adaptability and racecraft, struggled to feel comfortable behind the wheel.
Consequently, he often failed to extract the maximum performance from his car, frustrating both himself and the Ferrari team. Despite occasional brilliance, consistent results remained elusive, making 2025 a year to forget for Hamilton and the Italian team alike.
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Ferrari announces the SF-26
In preparation for 2026, Ferrari has spent the past year quietly developing its next-generation car. The team recently announced the official name: the SF-26.
Hamilton will use this car to challenge for his eighth world championship, which would see him surpass Michael Schumacher in Formula 1 history. Ferrari’s engineers are confident that the SF-26 addresses many of the weaknesses seen last season, providing Hamilton with a stronger foundation on which to build.
The announcement has boosted the team’s morale. While exact performance details are still under wraps, insiders suggest that the 2026 Ferrari car incorporates significant aerodynamic, power unit efficiency and handling improvements. Hamilton will be hoping that these changes will finally allow him to compete at the very top of the grid once again.
Hamilton: “The Time for Change Has Come”
Hamilton himself has been vocal about his intentions for the new season. In a reflective Instagram post, he emphasised the need for personal and professional evolution.
“The time for change has come. Start new routines, leave unwanted patterns behind and work on your evolution. Let go of what no longer serves you,” he wrote.
Aged 41, he continues to demonstrate the maturity and focus that highlight his dedication to achieving further success in Formula 1, despite a challenging year.
His message was both motivational and forward-looking, signalling that he is ready to embrace new approaches, learn from past mistakes and push Ferrari to its limits. With experience on his side, Hamilton hopes that 2026 will finally bring the consistency and results that eluded him in his debut season with Ferrari.
As pre-season testing approaches, all eyes will be on Hamilton and the SF-26. Can the British driver and Ferrari rise to the challenge and close the gap to the frontrunners?
NEXT ARTICLE – McLaren’s controversial “papaya rules” about to change after a title-winning season & growing backlash from drivers and pundits
McLaren’s divisive ‘papaya rules’ to change? – The McLaren team’s comeback has been a remarkable Formula One tale. Having ditched Ron Dennis, the legendary team owner and principal in 2017 McLaren’s fortunes have been on the rise.
Dennis was obsessed with being a works based team with an engine supplier solely dedicated to the McLaren cause. And with long term partner Mercedes deciding to adventure once again into owing a team in 2010, this left McLaren on the back foot.
To be fair to Dennis when the new V6 hybrid era began in 2014, the power unit manufacturers who owned teams were allowed preferential treatment under the FIA’s rules. This meant their team would get any PU upgrades first, with customers having to wait until the factory could build enough.
Papaya rules dominate 2025 headlines
All this has now changed since Mercedes’ dominant era and F1 customer teams now must be given the same specification of powertrains that the manufacturers run in their own car. But for McLaren, Dennis’ adventure with Honda was a disaster and saw the team finish a lowly 9th in the constructors’ championship in 2017.
Zak Brown was subsequently appointed CEO of McLaren Racing and their fortunes have been on the up ever since. They are the first ‘customer team’ to win the constructors’ title since Brawn GP in 2009 and for two seasons now have dominated their PU supplier Mercedes.
Yet despite their second team title and Lando Norris maiden F1 championship, McLaren are a team under scrutiny. Much of which comes from their decision to make public their rules of combat between the drivers. ‘Papaya rules’ often dominated the headlines in 2025, with Oscar Piastri finally admitting the team orders in Monza affected his mentality and ultimately his title chance.
The papaya rules are McLaren’s rule book for their drivers which state the team comes ahead of any individual glory, emphasising no contact should be made and the drivers must respect whatever…READ MORE ON THIS STORY
Clara Marlowe has worked in motorsport journalism for over 15 years, writing features for established sports magazines and online outlets. With formal training in journalism and a reputation for human-interest storytelling, she highlights the often-overlooked figures behind Formula 1’s success.
ANOTHER go Lewis go, nothing article. Wouldn’t Lewis have to beat his teammate before he claimed an 8th title? The last time he was able to do that George Russell was a Mercedes team rookie, Lewis had preferential treatment for everything from better engines and floors to preferred strategies. But for a few hardware failures for George and a self error or two, Lewis BARELY beat George then and hasn’t beat a teammate since. Breaking News – Lewis won’t be winning an 8th title in F1. You read it here first!