Lewis Hamilton has begun the 2026 Formula 1 season with Ferrari in a very different way compared to how he ended the previous year with the Scuderia. The introduction of the new regulations appears to have had a positive effect on the British driver, who feels much more comfortable with the SF-26. For the 44-year-old, a different preparation approach and a deeper level of involvement in the project have proved fundamental.
In China, Hamilton secured his first podium driving the Ferrari after a tough but respectful battle with teammate Charles Leclerc. The Shanghai circuit has always been one of Lewis Hamilton’s favourite tracks, and throughout the entire weekend he demonstrated slightly stronger pace than his teammate. More generally, across the first two races of the new technical cycle, the difference in confidence and performance levels from the British driver has been clearly visible.
At the moment, Mercedes appear difficult to catch, but the two Ferrari drivers still tried to challenge George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The upgrades that are expected to arrive after the April break — following the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix — could prove crucial for the development of the season.
The different approach to the 2026 season for Lewis Hamilton
After finishing the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix in third place, Lewis Hamilton explained what lies behind the improved performances he has shown with Ferrari at the start of the 2026 campaign. The seven-time world champion worked extremely hard on his preparation ahead of the season, and the effort he invested during the winter is now clearly visible on track.
“I definitely feel like I’m back to my best, both mentally and physically. I think there’s still room for improvement. This winter’s training was the hardest and most intense I’ve ever done, and that’s probably due to age. It takes longer to recover. But I’ve managed to put together these new tools. I have a great trainer that I’ve worked with in the past, but we started working together again from Christmas Day,” he explained during the post-Grand Prix press conference.
“Then there’s the time spent at the factory, obviously with the new engineer, and that has also been a huge incentive. There’s a great morale within the team. I decided what I was going to do mentally and I will continue to refine it,” he then added.
Involvement in the development of the Ferrari SF-26
One of the factors that has made a difference with the new single-seater is the fact that Lewis Hamilton was personally involved in the development of the project. The British driver was able to provide his feedback directly to the engineers, who then worked accordingly on the Ferrari SF-26.
The process of fully understanding the 2026 cars is still ongoing, even though the championship has already reached its second race. “I believe I can still extract more performance from this car. I’m still learning as I go, particularly when it comes to fuel delivery and things like that.”
“Working closely with the engineers and talking to them about the things I wanted from a car, and then developing it together with them this year and seeing them listen and include some of the things I asked for on the car, I’m incredibly grateful to them for listening to me from that perspective. It makes you feel more united with everyone because you’re all moving in the same direction. So I’m really looking forward to going back to Maranello next week and seeing everyone again,” the seven-time Formula 1 world champion concluded.
Lewis Hamilton’s resurgence highlights the perfect synergy between a rejuvenated driver and a team willing to adapt, setting the stage for a compelling intra-team battle at Ferrari as the 2026 Formula 1 season progresses.
