F1 Barcelona test – Lewis Hamilton pleased with SF26 performance and improvement over 2025. Lewis Hamilton completed 87 laps on the fourth day of F1 pre-season testing in Barcelona.

Lewis Hamilton took to the track in the morning session of the fourth day of F1 testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, completing an impressive 87 laps. The seven-time world champion followed up on his work from Tuesday with another smooth session behind the wheel of the Ferrari SF26.

Focus on reliability rather than outright speed

Lewis Hamilton’s session focused primarily on long runs to assess the reliability of Ferrari’s new power unit. Pure performance was not the objective, a strategy that could change during the final day of testing, when teams on their third day might push harder. For now, Lewis Hamilton expressed satisfaction with the session, noting a clear improvement compared to the struggles of 2025.

Lewis Hamilton shares his thoughts

After the morning session, Lewis Hamilton reflected on his performance: “Today I completed 85 laps in the morning, which is incredible. All of this is thanks to everyone back at the factory who have done an outstanding job to ensure that the car is really reliable so far.”

He also highlighted the difference from last year’s car, the troubled SF25, with optimism: “Last year we had a very poor start to testing. So, considering this is a completely new set of regulations, it’s better than what we experienced in the past. I really hope it continues like this.” – the British driver pointed out.

Looking ahead to the new season

Lewis Hamilton’s positive words underline his confidence in the SF26 and Ferrari’s chances in the upcoming season. With the improved reliability and performance, the English driver is hopeful of returning Ferrari to the top of the Formula 1 podium.

As the sun sets on his second personal day of testing, Lewis Hamilton’s seamless integration into the Ferrari systems and his praise for the 2026 power unit suggest that the Italian squad has hit the ground running. While the true pecking order remains a mystery until the Australian Grand Prix, the sheer mileage accumulated by the #44 car today is a clear statement of intent. If the reliability holds through the final day of the shakedown, Ferrari will head into the official pre-season tests with a significant data advantage over their rivals.