Hamilton finds Ferrari's 2026 car 'more enjoyable' in Barcelona test

Lewis Hamilton delivered a positive verdict on Ferrari's 2026 challenger after setting the fastest unofficial lap time in pre-season testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The seven-time champion praised the car's more engaging driving characteristics and highlighted a palpable "winning mentality" within the Scuderia, signaling a strong start to his tenure with the Italian team.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's transition to Ferrari is the biggest story of the 2026 season, making his initial feedback on the car and team environment critically important. His praise for the car's drivability and the team's operational consistency offers the first tangible signs that the partnership could be competitive, potentially ending years of frustration with the previous generation of ground-effect cars that yielded him only two victories.

The details:

• Hamilton set the benchmark time of 1:16.348 during the final day of testing, finishing roughly a tenth ahead of Mercedes' George Russell.
• He described the SF-26 as "a little bit more fun to drive" than its predecessors, citing its oversteer-prone and snappy nature that is "a little bit easier to catch."
• The driver emphasized the team's reliability during testing, noting high mileage with minimal downtime: "Just to see the mileage that we've been out to get the last couple of days... we didn't really have any downtime moments."
• Beyond the car, Hamilton pointed to a cultural shift, stating, "I really feel the winning mentality in every single person in the team more than ever."
• He also acknowledged the collective effort, crediting work from the factory and his own personal winter preparation for the smooth test.

What's next:

The real test begins at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, where competitive pecking orders will become clear. Hamilton's initial optimism provides a foundation, but he was quick to add that "we definitely have work to do to improve, of course, like everybody does." The focus now shifts to translating this promising test pace and team harmony into consistent race weekend performance against established rivals like Red Bull and Mercedes.