During the first official press conference of the season, Lewis Hamilton spoke about the situation inside Ferrari and expressed his optimism for the upcoming 2026 Formula 1 season.
The last three days of testing in Bahrain will give us the first real indications of what we can expect from the new season. Until now, teams have largely played a game of hide-and-seek, avoiding revealing any information about the true potential of their cars. They have done this by running different specifications than those that will be seen in Australia, focusing instead on gathering data related to reliability and overall performance under test conditions.
In this regard, Ferrari seems to have one of the strongest power units on the grid, as neither Lewis Hamilton nor Charles Leclerc experienced any engine-related issues during the first kilometers behind the wheel of the SF-26. This point was emphasized by the British driver himself during the first official press conference of the season. “For now, everything is working well, the atmosphere in the team is excellent, and I’m genuinely excited for this season. There’s great energy, a lot of hunger, and a positive spirit. Even at the factory, you can clearly feel this motivation,” said the number 44.
Hamilton shares his feelings ahead of his second season at Ferrari
The seven-time world champion, after a challenging 2025, appears to be approaching this season with a different mindset, aided by a car that seems to be delivering positive signs. “Every time I start a season, I do it with confidence, but the past few years have been difficult. Now I feel better both mentally and physically. I’ve left last year behind, I’ve reset myself. I’ve worked a lot on myself and with the team. The car has started off well, and I feel more comfortable, having contributed to its development over the last few months,” Hamilton explained.
“My confidence in the team remains absolutely the same. I know what they are capable of. That’s why I joined the team. I knew it wouldn’t be immediate and that we wouldn’t achieve success overnight. I signed a longer contract because I knew it was a long-term process. We learned so much from last year, and everyone is constantly eager to improve and do better. I feel that we are working together better than ever before, and I’m excited about what lies ahead,” Lewis Hamilton added, underlining his renewed optimism and commitment to Ferrari’s long-term project.
As the sun sets on the Sakhir circuit, Lewis Hamilton’s words suggest a driver who has found his footing within the walls of Maranello. The transition from the struggles of the previous regulation cycle to the high-tech 2026 era seems to have revitalized the Briton, who looks poised to lead Ferrari’s charge against the likes of Mercedes and Red Bull. With the reliability boxes checked and a driver in his prime mental state, the Scuderia heads into the final hours of testing with a level of stability that could be the deciding factor in the early championship standings.
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