Lewis Hamilton returned to the cockpit of the Ferrari SF-26 on Day 4 of Formula 1’s Barcelona Shakedown, marking his first dry laps of the 2026 car after the wet conditions disrupted testing on Tuesday. The British seven-time world champion was tasked with the morning session while Charles Leclerc took over the afternoon programme, as Ferrari continue their limited running schedule after sitting out both Day 1 and Day 3.
During his session, a video circulated on social media showing Lewis Hamilton spinning at the exit of the long, sweeping Turn 10 as he approached the kink at Turn 11. The seven-time F1 world champion completed a full 360-degree spin but was able to recover immediately and continue without any damage. This was not Hamilton’s first minor mishap of the Barcelona Shakedown, as he had previously run wide and briefly into the gravel during wet-weather testing earlier in the week.
F1 fans react to Lewis Hamilton’s unusual spin in Barcelona
Despite the lack of consequences, F1 fans were quick to react to what they described as a “strange” or “odd” moment. Observers noted that the spin appeared to happen during an installation lap, possibly caused by cold tyres and the low January temperatures in Barcelona, which hovered around 12 degrees Celsius. Many fans also commented that the spin seemed unusual because Lewis Hamilton was not driving at high speed, suggesting it was more a quirk of the new SF-26 rather than a driver error.
Speculation among the F1 community included theories that a new component on the 2026 Ferrari might have momentarily failed, or that active aerodynamic elements could have behaved unexpectedly. One viewer noted that from the camera angle, it looked as if all grip had vanished suddenly, highlighting the challenges teams face when adjusting to the latest generation of Formula 1 cars.
New generation cars continue to challenge top drivers
The Barcelona Shakedown has proven tricky for several top drivers adjusting to the 2026 machinery. Max Verstappen also experienced a rare mistake on Day 2, causing minor disruption when he ran over gravel at the circuit, briefly bringing out the red flags. These incidents underline the complexity of handling the new ground-effect cars and the adjustments required for optimal performance.
After completing his first substantial mileage in the SF-26, Lewis Hamilton reportedly felt positive about the car’s behaviour. He indicated that porpoising, a phenomenon that troubled drivers with the previous generation of ground-effect cars, seemed to have been mitigated in the 2026 Ferrari. According to reports from Italian media, Ferrari have incorporated Lewis Hamilton’s feedback into the development of the SF-26, which should allow him to feel significantly more confident and comfortable in the new car compared with his experience in the 2025 SF-25.
With Charles Leclerc sharing the driving duties in the afternoon, Ferrari were able to gather extensive data across the full day. The Briton’s dry laps, combined with the Monegasque’s work, will provide the team with a strong foundation to refine the SF-26 ahead of the first official pre-season test, helping both drivers adjust to the car’s new characteristics while minimising reliability concerns.
Overall, while Lewis Hamilton’s spin generated buzz online, it serves as a reminder of the learning curve that comes with F1’s latest generation of cars. Both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are expected to continue providing detailed feedback to Ferrari, ensuring the team can optimise performance and stability before the 2026 season officially begins.
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