Formula 1 has arrived in Bahrain, bringing with it the first major test of the 2026 season. From Wednesday to Friday, all ten teams will put their brand-new cars through their paces under the desert sun. Engineers will be glued to their laptops, fans will be refreshing live timing and drivers will be forming their first real impressions.
Lewis Hamilton was the first of Ferrari’s two drivers to hit the track on Wednesday morning. As the most experienced driver on the grid and a seven-time world champion, his initial feedback was always going to carry weight. While the Briton admitted he is enjoying the new generation of cars, he did not hide a notable concern.
A different kind of Formula 1
Hamilton’s first verdict was surprisingly positive in one respect: the new 2026 cars are ‘fun to drive’.
According to the Ferrari driver, the latest cars differ from the ground-effect machines of the previous generation, and so feel very different from their predecessors. They are shorter, lighter and, in some ways, easier to control. However, they also generate ‘much less downforce’, which fundamentally changes the driving experience.
The reduced aerodynamic grip means drivers are sliding more and working harder behind the wheel. Hamilton even likened the sensation to rallying at times, describing the cars as playful yet challenging.
“It’s quite a lot of fun,” he said after stepping out of the cockpit. The added movement and unpredictability seem to make driving feel more raw, which is something that many purists have long called for.
But that enjoyment comes with a caveat.
MORE F1 NEWS – Williams Forced to Cancel Testing After ‘Extreme’ Pre-Season Shock
“It feels slower than Formula 2!”
Despite praising the driving experience, Hamilton did not shy away from criticising the overall performance level. His main concern? The cars feel significantly slower than before.
In fact, the Ferrari driver even compared them to Formula 2 machinery.
“It certainly feels that way,” he remarked, suggesting that the current pace gives the impression of being slower than GP2, the type of car Hamilton drove prior to stepping up to F1 back in 2007 — GP2 being Formula 2’s former name.
This is a striking comment, especially given that Formula 1 has always positioned itself as the absolute pinnacle of single-seater speed. Hamilton is not alone in this view. World champion Lando Norris had already made a similar observation following the pre-season test in Barcelona, saying that the new cars did not feel as fast as expected.
Naturally, such statements immediately sparked debate in the paddock and among fans.
MORE F1 NEWS – Betrayal at Viry? Renault Accused of Abandoning Its Legendary F1 Engine Base
The numbers tell a different story
However, a closer look at the lap times reveals a more nuanced picture. During Wednesday morning’s session, Max Verstappen recorded the fastest time. This was still significantly slower than last year’s F2 pole position time in Bahrain. Hamilton himself was roughly a second adrift of Verstappen’s best lap.
On the face of it, this might support the drivers’ impressions. But context is crucial.
Testing conditions in Bahrain were far from ideal. Hamilton pointed out that it was both windy and extremely hot, which made the cars difficult to handle and reduced overall grip. Compared to the smoother and more controlled shakedown in Barcelona, the Ferrari did not feel as stable on the abrasive Sakhir asphalt.
Furthermore, none of the teams are using fully optimised configurations yet.
Still searching for the sweet spot
Hamilton was keen to stress that it is “very early” in the development process. Winter testing is about experimentation, not ultimate performance.
Tyre pressures, aerodynamic packages, ride height and mechanical balance are all still being evaluated. Engineers are deliberately trying out different setups to understand how the car behaves in a wide range of conditions.
“With the base vehicle we have, we are still trying to test different things,” Hamilton explained. “We are still trying to find the optimal operating window.”
In other words, the cars seen in Bahrain are far from their final form. Significant performance gains are expected once teams have refined their setups and introduced upgrades.
For now, Hamilton’s verdict can be summed up simply: the new Ferrari — and the 2026 Formula 1 cars in general — is enjoyable and lively, but not yet as fast as the drivers would like.
Fun, yes. Perfect? Not quite, at least not yet.
MORE F1 NEWS – ‘Just do your job’: Toto Wolff Hits Back at Mercedes Engine Claims
NEXT ARTICLE – FIA call last minute powertrain crunch meeting in Bahrain
Just over twelve months ago, the FIA called a meeting of the powertrain manufacturers to discuss concerns that the all new 2026 F1 cars would run out of electrical charge along the straights. The proposal was to reduce the amount of electrical energy from its current 50/50 power split with the internal combustion engine.
To enforce any changes, there needed to be a super majority agreement, meaning four of the five manufacturers were required to vote in agreement. Audi and Honda in particular were not in favour of a tweak in the regulations and so the matter was swept under the carpet.
Now the fears of many have come to pass as in the Barcelona shakedown a number of drivers reported a loss of electrical power along the front straight and that they were forced to lift and coast into corners to conserve electrical energy. The FIA has now slated a pow wow with the manufacturers during the upcoming Bahrain pre-season test where the matter may well be revisited, although the primary purpose for the meeting is another topic entirely.
Mercedes new powertrain questioned for legality
Ferrari, Audi and Honda have been corresponding with the FIA in recent weeks since it came to light that Mercedes are using a metallurgical trick to defeat F1 governing body’s test for compression ratio’s in the internal combustion engine.
Engineers having left Mercedes High Performance Powertrains in Brixworth have allegedly spilled the beans on their former employer. The FIA test is conducted at ambient temperature when the power unit is ‘cold.’ However, once up to operating temperature, expansion in the specially selected metallic compound closes off a pocket in the cylinder, in effect reducing the cubic capacity and upping the compression ratio estimated at 18.1.
Initially it was believed that Red Bull too were exploiting a similar technology in their powertrain, although this now appears not to be the case. Red Bull have joined the other three manufacturers and are ready to protest the Mercedes power unit in an effort to have it declared illegal.
At the Barcelona shakedown, as happens each preseason, the teams had their espionage divisions in full action. Readings are taken by engineers of their rival’s engine notes at certain points around the circuit which are then analysed and reveal a whole host of information…CONTINUE READING THIS ARTICLE
Alex Stanton is a Formula 1 journalist at TJ13 with a focus on the financial and commercial dynamics that underpin the sport. Alex contributes reporting and analysis on team ownership structures, sponsorship trends, and the evolving business model of Formula 1.
At TJ13, Alex covers topics including manufacturer investment, cost cap implications, and the strategic direction of teams navigating an increasingly complex financial environment. Alex’s work often examines how commercial decisions translate into on-track performance and long-term competitiveness.
With a strong interest in the intersection of sport and business, Alex provides context around Formula 1’s global growth, including media rights, expansion markets, and manufacturer influence.
Alex’s reporting aims to explain the financial realities behind headline stories, helping readers understand how money, governance, and strategy shape the competitive order in Formula 1.
Today on Lewisvision – “As the most experienced driver on the grid and a seven-time world champion, his initial feedback was always going to carry weight.”
Right…. Weight with who? The Ferrari engineers that don’t want to work with him? How much weight? You guys more or less covered a single team, Mercedes, until a year ago. Now all we read about is Ferrari. What do these two F1 teams have in common? For one they both have drivers that are faster than Sir Lewis Hamilton in the very same cars. One of those guys is even British! Maybe go talk with George once in a while, while grandpa Hamilton rests in his rocking chair. Lewis won’t miracle himself a new career let alone another F1 title. You read it here first!