F1 | Ferrari, something has changed: Lewis Hamilton reveals the shift giving Tifosi hope. After the Barcelona shakedown, Lewis Hamilton explains what has changed at Ferrari for 2026.

Ferrari 2026 shakedown: Hamilton highlights improvements giving fans hope

At the conclusion of the Barcelona tests that opened the 2026 F1 season, Lewis Hamilton explained what has changed at Ferrari compared to the past. After a difficult first year with the Scuderia, 2026 represents a chance for a turnaround for the British driver. The Briton struggled last year, partly due to a SF-25 packed with issues that made adapting to Maranello more challenging.

Fans of the Prancing Horse are hoping that car number 44 can turn things around under the new technical regulations, and the first signs from the Barcelona shakedown are promising. The former Mercedes driver completed numerous laps during the FIA-organized shakedown and expressed satisfaction with the work accomplished.

Hamilton explains what has changed in 2026

Among the comments Lewis Hamilton shared, he focused on the differences compared to last year. Interviewed by the official F1 channels, the seven-time world champion emphasized that Ferrari feels different internally. “This generation of cars feels much nicer to drive. They have more oversteer and slide, which makes them more fun. We have work to do to improve, but so do the others. I can feel that there is a winning mentality in every single member of the team, and that’s positive,” said number 44.

“We are all positive and excited. There’s no illusion that we are ahead of the others or anything like that. Several teams performed very well in these tests, so we have no real idea where we might stand performance-wise. But we can definitely start from a solid base, and I feel that there is a different energy compared to last year. Over the next few days, we will put together the data and feedback from both me and Charles to organize the next steps in the best possible way,” Lewis Hamilton added.

Lewis Hamilton’s reflections after the Barcelona shakedown therefore suggest that Ferrari has successfully revitalized its internal culture, replacing the frustrations of the SF-25 era with a focused “winning mentality.” By describing the 2026 challenger as “nicer to drive” and more engaging on the limit, Hamilton hints that Maranello has finally delivered a platform that complements his aggressive driving style, providing the Tifosi with genuine reason for optimism. While the seven-time champion remains cautious about the true pecking order, his emphasis on the “different energy” at the factory indicates that the team is working with a level of cohesion and baseline stability that was previously missing. As Ferrari heads to Bahrain to further refine the SF-26, the synergy between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc’s feedback will be the final ingredient in determining if this newfound positivity can translate into a championship-caliber performance on track.