On the eve of the season-opening race in Australia, Lewis Hamilton reflected on his journey with Ferrari and launched his challenge for the 2026 Formula 1 World Championship. In his second year at Maranello, the seven-time world champion appears transformed: less weighed down by the pressure of results at all costs and more focused on a rebirth that is both technical and spiritual after the difficulties of the 2025 season. In an interview with Corriere della Sera, Lewis spoke of a “crazy” mission and of a car that, for the first time, he truly feels is his own.
Inspiration from the Chinese calendar
The starting point is an honest analysis of last year, a 2025 campaign that ended not only without the long-dreamed world title, but also without a single podium finish—something that had never happened before in his Formula 1 career. “It’s about analyzing where you are, setting goals and defining a way to reach them. My target last year was to win the World Championship with Ferrari, and I didn’t manage it. That doesn’t mean I can’t achieve it,” the British driver said. “You have to look inside yourself and ask uncomfortable questions. Am I doing enough? Can I improve? Can I be kinder? How do I need to change my methods?”
This constant search for answers now comes with a renewed mental approach, inspired—surprisingly—by the Chinese calendar. “This is the year of the Fire Horse. It represents freedom, the desire to clear your mind from pressure and bring fundamental values back to the center. When you allow yourself to be crushed by responsibility, you risk losing the joy. You have to rediscover the happiness.”
The motivation: “Only two people in the world drive a Ferrari in F1”
Even after twenty seasons in Formula 1, the appeal and prestige of Ferrari have not stopped astonishing the Stevenage-born driver. Lewis Hamilton lives his role with the awareness of belonging to an extremely exclusive group. “Only two people in the world drive a Ferrari in F1, and I am one of them. I begin this ‘crazy’ mission representing millions of people around the world. What works with other drivers doesn’t work with me, and vice versa.”
Hamilton channels this uniqueness into the benefit of the team, trying to avoid any destructive dualism with his teammate. When speaking about his relationship with Charles Leclerc and the management of internal rivalry at Ferrari, Lewis was clear. “Ferrari is one single thing: in Italy and beyond, people love it like they love the Pope. My goal is not to divide the fans. We both want to win and of course I would like it to be me, but the team comes first. Charles is a phenomenal driver for the way he drives and for his work ethic, and he has been here for eight years. But I arrive at this championship in a different way.”
Lewis Hamilton’s DNA in the 2026 Ferrari
The real novelty of the 2026 season lies in Lewis Hamilton’s technical involvement in the development of the car. While last year’s challenger was a project he found “already ready,” the SF-26 has benefited from his direct input since the earliest design phases. It is an aspect the seven-time world champion has repeatedly emphasized, including in this interview. “I’ve been working on the 2026 car for 14 months. Compared to the previous one, this car has a bit of my DNA in it, and that excites me.”
Regarding the competitive picture that emerged from winter testing, Lewis joked but also confirmed his determination to uncover the true level of the opposition. “Very little emerged from testing, everyone is hiding. I call Toto Wolff at Mercedes and Zak Brown at McLaren to try to understand what they’ve understood, but I get no results. However, I have one certainty: after what we went through last year, we can face any situation. This team has everything it takes to win, we just have to finish the job together. I came to Ferrari because I believed in it and I still believe in it. It’s beautiful.”
As the F1 2026 season begins in Australia, Lewis Hamilton’s message is clear: this is not just another championship campaign, but a redemption story built on experience, self-analysis, technical contribution, and renewed motivation. With the SF-26 carrying part of his DNA, the British champion believes Ferrari truly has the tools to return to the top of Formula 1.
