In 2025, Lewis Hamilton began a bold new chapter in his illustrious Formula 1 career by leaving Mercedes, with whom he had enjoyed more than a decade of success, to join Ferrari. This generated enormous expectations, with many hoping that the seven-time world champion could secure a record-breaking eighth title with Ferrari. However, Hamilton’s first season with the Scuderia proved far more challenging than expected, with results falling well short of his usual standards.
However, as the 2026 Formula 1 season approaches, there are growing signs that Hamilton’s situation at Ferrari may finally be improving. With the opening Grand Prix set to take place in Australia on 8 March, optimism is slowly replacing frustration within the Italian team.
A new season brings new opportunities
The 2026 campaign will begin with completely new technical regulations, offering every team a chance to start afresh. Lando Norris will arrive in Melbourne as the reigning world champion, having secured his breakthrough title in 2025, and McLaren will once again be a major force. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen is determined to reclaim his crown after being dethroned last season.
Against this competitive backdrop, attention naturally turns to Lewis Hamilton. Following a disappointing first year at Ferrari, the key question is whether the British driver can establish himself as a genuine title contender again — or at least return to the sharp end of the grid.
A Difficult First Year in Red
Hamilton’s first season with Ferrari fell well short of expectations. Despite showing occasional speed, he struggled to be consistent, and the car rarely allowed him to compete with the front-runners. Adapting to a new team, systems and car philosophy would always take time, but the gap to the top was larger than Hamilton and Ferrari had hoped.
This lack of competitiveness inevitably raised doubts about whether the partnership could deliver the success both sides crave. However, rather than dwelling on setbacks, Ferrari has chosen to use the 2026 regulation overhaul as an opportunity for a fresh start.
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Encouraging early feedback from testing
Currently in Barcelona for pre-season testing, Hamilton has offered a notably more positive assessment of Ferrari’s new car than he did last year. While being careful not to draw premature conclusions, the seven-time world champion acknowledged clear progress.
“Last year, we had a much worse start to testing,” Hamilton explained. “So, given that it’s a completely new set of regulations, it’s better than what we’ve experienced in the past, and I really hope it continues that way.”
Hamilton’s current focus is on gathering data rather than chasing lap times. Accumulating mileage, understanding the engine and aerodynamics, and refining the car’s overall balance are currently the top priorities.
Learning more with every lap
Ferrari has split its testing programme between Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, enabling both drivers to experiment with different setups and approaches. According to Hamilton, this collaborative approach is already paying dividends.
“We completed a programme this morning and learned some valuable lessons,” he said. “Charles is doing a different series of tests this afternoon, which is excellent. It’s great to be able to do more running and start to understand the tyres.”
Track conditions have also played a role in shaping early impressions. After heavy rain limited track time earlier in the test, Hamilton welcomed the opportunity to drive in dry conditions and gain a clearer understanding of how the car behaves.
Cautious optimism ahead of Australia
“It was nice to be able to get out on the track in dry conditions and put in some laps,” Hamilton noted. “At Fiorano, I only did two laps to get a feel for the car, so getting more mileage now is really important.”
While it is still too early to judge Ferrari’s true competitiveness, Hamilton’s comments suggest a more stable foundation than in 2025. Whether that progress will be enough to challenge Norris, Verstappen and the other front-runners remains to be seen, but for the first time in months, there is genuine optimism surrounding Hamilton’s future with Ferrari.
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NEXT ARTICLE – Hamilton experiences scary moment during F1 testing
Lewis Hamilton had a scare on Thursday during Formula 1 testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The seven-time world champion climbed into his new Ferrari SF-26 for the second time this week, continuing to adapt to life at the Scuderia.
However, right at the start of the session, he lost control of the car for a moment, which was captured on video and circulated on X.
Hamilton spins!
During the incident, Hamilton spun his SF-26 on a straight section of the circuit at relatively low speed. The British driver reacted quickly, regaining control of the car almost immediately and managing to keep it on the track.
As there was no contact with the barriers and no damage was reported, the session continued uninterrupted. Ferrari engineers also appeared unconcerned, allowing Hamilton to resume his run without any visible issues.
Although the spin was minor, it served as a reminder that pre-season testing can still be unpredictable, particularly when drivers are pushing the limits of brand-new machinery and learning how it behaves…CONTINUE READING THIS ARTICLE
Thiago Treze is a Brazilian motorsport writer at TJ13 with a background in sports journalism and broadcast media, alongside an academic foundation in engineering with a focus on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). This combination of technical knowledge and editorial experience allows Thiago to approach Formula 1 from both a performance and narrative perspective.
At TJ13, Treze covers driver performance, career developments, and key storylines across the Formula 1 grid, while also analysing the technical factors that influence competitiveness. This includes aerodynamic development trends, simulation-driven design approaches, and the engineering decisions that shape race weekend outcomes.
His reporting bridges the gap between human performance and machine development, helping readers understand how driver execution and technical innovation interact in modern Formula 1. Coverage often connects on-track events with the underlying engineering philosophies that define each team’s approach.
With a global perspective shaped by both journalism and technical study, Thiago also focuses on Formula 1’s international reach and the different ways the sport is experienced across regions.
Treze has a particular interest in how Computational Fluid Dynamics and aerodynamic modelling contribute to car performance, offering accessible explanations of complex technical concepts within Formula 1.
