Lewis Hamilton upbeat after Bahrain test: “Solid day despite a problem”. Lewis Hamilton finished seventh on day one of the second Bahrain F1 test with Ferrari.

The Ferrari driver looks increasingly comfortable behind the wheel of the SF-26, even if he has not yet chased outright lap time

Smiling Hamilton despite a setback

Lewis Hamilton wrapped up day one of the second phase of pre-season testing in Bahrain with the seventh-fastest overall time and 47 laps completed. The British driver – who earlier in the day also spoke in the press conference, stressing that this Ferrari was built “with my DNA” – took over the cockpit in the afternoon session and was briefly slowed by a minor technical issue that cost him some track time.

However, the setback did little to dampen the mood of the seven-time world champion. Lewis Hamilton appeared relaxed and satisfied in the customary end-of-day media session, offering encouraging words about the work done so far with the SF-26 as Ferrari continue their preparations for the new Formula 1 season.

“It’s been a solid day,” commented the driver of the red #44. “We managed to complete a good number of laps, which is always positive. We had a small issue during my session, but the team did a great job getting me back out on track so I could complete some long runs. We’ve made progress compared to last week and I’m continuing to improve my understanding of the car. We’re still working on fine-tuning the balance, but we’re heading in the right direction.”

For now, outright performance is not the priority. Like his teammate, Lewis Hamilton has yet to focus on a qualifying-style run, instead concentrating on mileage, consistency and long-run pace. With reliability appearing solid overall and steady progress being made, Ferrari leave the opening day of this second Bahrain test block with cautious optimism as they build towards the start of the 2026 Formula 1 campaign.

The synergy between the Briton and his new engineering crew appears to be a highlight of the Bahrain sessions, as the team prioritizes a methodical approach to the 2026 regulations. By focusing on long-run consistency and resolving technical gremlins now, Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari are ensuring they hit the ground running for the season opener. Despite the minor interruption today, the overall verdict from the cockpit is clear: the project is on track and moving toward peak performance.