In the first press conference of the 2026 Formula 1 season, Lewis Hamilton explained what has changed compared to last year and clarified Ferrari’s main objective for the campaign ahead.
On the eve of the new Formula 1 season, during the opening press conference of 2026, the seven-time world champion reflected on the work carried out by Scuderia Ferrari over the winter and set out a clear target for the championship that is about to begin. Lewis Hamilton is entering his second year in red with greater awareness and a level of confidence built on hard work rather than words.
Lewis Hamilton’s words on Ferrari’s objective for 2026
“We completed very good mileage during the winter tests. An incredible job was done by the team at the factory, but also during testing, and we learned a lot from last year. We leave the negative things behind and move forward with the positives. We are ready, prepared, and we know what we have to do. We also know there are huge challenges for all of us with the new rules and regulations.”
Lewis Hamilton then underlined how different his approach feels compared to last season, which was his first with the Scuderia, highlighting that he now feels fully integrated within the team. “Everything is very different compared to the first year and it’s a much nicer feeling. After spending a year within the team, I understand the culture, the way of working and how we operate together. I think we are in a good place as a team now and I really feel aligned with everyone. So yes, much happier.”
Finally, the British driver did not hide Ferrari’s ambitions for 2026, while at the same time remaining cautious about the competition. “The objective is to win. That’s what we’re working towards. Every team does, but that’s our goal: to maximise every opportunity, to hopefully be fighting at the front, hopefully already in the first races. We don’t really know yet. Mercedes looked particularly quick and I’m not sure we’ve seen the full potential of Red Bull yet, so it’s really exciting. Whatever the situation is, I feel like I have a great group of people behind me, focused on delivering performance and really maximising every single weekend.”
Lewis Hamilton’s shift from the “learning phase” of 2025 to a state of total synergy with Ferrari marks a potential turning point for the Scuderia. While the technical reset of the new regulations introduces a baseline of uncertainty, the Briton’s internal comfort level suggests that the SF-26 is a car he can finally trust at the limit. By acknowledging the early pace of Mercedes and the hidden potential of Red Bull, he is positioning Ferrari not as a team of empty promises, but as a clinical operation ready to strike at the first opportunity. If the harmony within the garage translates into on-track results at Albert Park, the “one goal” of returning the title to Maranello could quickly move from a distant dream to a definitive reality.
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