Lewis Hamilton takes a step at Ferrari that hasn’t been done since Michael Schumacher. Lewis Hamilton completed his first laps in Ferrari’s 2026 F1 car at Fiorano.

Lewis Hamilton had the privilege of taking Ferrari’s 2026 Formula 1 car for its first laps on Friday, completing a brief shakedown at the team’s Fiorano test circuit. The session marked the official start of Lewis Hamilton’s second year with Ferrari, giving the seven-time world champion a first opportunity to get a feel for the SF-26 ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season.

Ferrari kept the launch deliberately low-key, opting to reveal the new livery in a short social media clip rather than a full-scale event. Despite this, thousands of fans still gathered at Fiorano to catch a glimpse of Hamilton behind the wheel, underscoring the enduring global appeal of both the driver and the Scuderia.

Under current F1 rules, Lewis Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc were each limited to 15 kilometres during the demonstration run, effectively restricting the outing to a short shakedown rather than a full testing programme. Assuming no reliability issues arise, both drivers are expected to complete their first significant running of the SF-26 at the official Barcelona shakedown next week, where longer laps and more extensive performance work will take place.

After what was a particularly difficult 2025 season, Hamilton appeared visibly refreshed and focused. The Briton endured his lowest-scoring campaign in years, finishing without a single podium for the first time in his career and experiencing three consecutive eliminations in Q1 during the final races. Friday’s outing provided an early sign that he is mentally and physically prepared to start the new season on a stronger footing.

Hamilton’s commitment at the Ferrari factory

F1TV journalist Lawrence Barretto, who was granted access to the Ferrari garage for the shakedown, reported that Hamilton has been staying on site at Ferrari’s Maranello factory for the past week in his motorhome. During this time, he has been holding meetings with engineers and key team personnel to prepare for the challenges of the 2026 regulations, demonstrating his intense focus and professionalism ahead of the official testing programme.

This winter, Ferrari confirmed that Hamilton would be paired with a new race engineer for 2026 following a difficult year working with Riccardo Adami. The permanent replacement has yet to be officially announced, but the team is understood to be taking care to select an engineer who can build a strong working relationship with the seven-time world champion.

Hamilton also spent time at Maranello last year, but returning to stay on site during this pre-season reinforces his commitment and dispels any doubts about his focus and motivation. Historically, Ferrari has benefited from such close integration; Michael Schumacher, for instance, used to reside in Enzo Ferrari’s house in Maranello, which maximised his on-track preparation at Fiorano during an era with no testing restrictions.

Lessons from Schumacher’s second year at Ferrari

In his second season at Ferrari, Michael Schumacher fought intensely for the championship following a strong debut year in which he won three races and finished third overall. That title battle came down to the final race in Jerez, where Schumacher was controversially disqualified after stewards ruled that he deliberately collided with Jacques Villeneuve. Schumacher ultimately finished runner-up to Mika Hakkinen in 1998, and it would take until 2000—his fifth season with Ferrari—for him to win the first of five consecutive drivers’ titles, establishing one of the most dominant eras in F1 history.

Unlike Michael Schumacher, the Briton does not have the luxury of a long-term timeline. At 41 years old, he is already approaching the later stages of his career. His current Ferrari contract runs until the end of 2026, though there are indications that release clauses may come into play before the term ends. This adds extra pressure for Hamilton to adapt quickly to the SF-26 and capitalise on every opportunity to deliver competitive results for the Scuderia.

Friday’s shakedown at Fiorano may have been brief, but it offered a clear message: Hamilton is fully committed, fully engaged, and ready to tackle the new challenges of the 2026 Formula 1 season with Ferrari, determined to avoid repeating the struggles of 2025 and to make an immediate impact alongside Charles Leclerc.