Ferrari SF-26 stops on track at Fiorano: what happened with Lewis Hamilton
The first lap of Lewis Hamilton in the Ferrari SF-26 ended with the car stationary in front of the garage. So what really happened at Fiorano?
Ferrari’s SF-26 came to a stop on track, leaving fans wondering why Lewis Hamilton parked in front of the garage. The Maranello team had just unveiled its first car of the new technical era, which then completed a few laps, first with the seven-time World Champion and then with Charles Leclerc. The Briton’s first lap, however, ended abruptly in front of the garage, sparking curiosity among fans. The car, however, did not experience any technical problems.
Formula 1 is officially back from its winter break: today was “Ferrari Day.” The Prancing Horse presented its first car built under the new technical regulations imposed by the FIA. Despite the SF-26 still being in its very early version, as team principal Frédéric Vasseur pointed out, certain details already hint at an advanced development stage.
Vasseur emphasized that the team is “united” and “aligned,” fully aware of the responsibilities—and opportunities—linked to the upcoming season. The initial laps are encouraging: the car shows no signs of failure, and the drivers can push right away, providing an early demonstration of the active aerodynamics. Even in the cold of Fiorano, a new star could emerge.
Hamilton’s “issue” explained
Fans may have noticed a curious moment. After a short sequence of laps, Lewis Hamilton appeared to stop abruptly in front of his garage. Spectators expected him to enter the pit lane, but instead he turned off the SF-26. The mechanics quickly rushed onto the track to recover the car, which was back running just minutes later.
Was it a small technical problem or a strategic choice? The answer is clearly the latter. For the first shakedown of the car, Ferrari has a very limited number of kilometers available. Every meter counts, and for this reason, the engineers preferred to save even the short distance Lewis Hamilton would have needed to return to the garage on his own.
