Lewis Hamilton got his first real feel for Ferrari’s new 2026 F1 car when he put the SF-26 through its opening laps. On Friday the Brit was handed the honours of being the first to run the car around the Fiorano test circuit, immediately after the official reveal. There’s a lot riding on the new season for Hamilton; after a disappointing maiden year in red he’s keen to reassert himself at the top level. Can the Scuderia guide him into the new F1 era?
For Lewis Hamilton it was, above all, an emotional moment, and he visibly savoured the Ferrari culture and the presence of the Tifosi. “It’s just so exciting when they start the car and you feel the new vibrations through your body,” he said with a grin. “When that garage door opens and you drive to the first corner, with all those Tifosi lining the circuit; that’s something I will never get used to.”
For the seven-time world champion the shakedown was primarily about team bonding. “It was really about reconnecting with the team,” he explained. “A day like that lifts you up. It reminds me why I do what I do and why I love this sport.” Hamilton stands on the verge of his second season with Ferrari and wants to put last year’s disappointments behind him as quickly as possible. “If you watch my interviews from recent years, you’d never hear me say I’m nervous, but now I’ll admit that I am. I’m looking forward to a fresh start.”
‘Unlearning old habits’
Hamilton cut a defeated figure in 2025. He failed to score a single podium and was routinely dumped out in Q1 during the final triple header. The celebrated Brit hopes to get back on track next season, helped in part by a number of behind-the-scenes changes Ferrari has implemented. For one, Hamilton is parting ways with race engineer Riccardo Adami.
“It was mainly important to take some time to rest and have a proper break,” he continued. “Admittedly it was the shortest break ever, but exactly what we needed. Everything was geared towards learning new patterns and unlearning old habits.” According to the former champion, Ferrari feels reborn. “The team feels refreshed, and an enormous amount of work has been done across the various departments. It’s great to see. We’re going to harness this energy and take it day by day.” This week Hamilton returns to action during the closed shakedown in Barcelona.
