Hamilton hails 'amazing' mileage in Ferrari's 2026 Barcelona test

Lewis Hamilton expressed satisfaction with his first significant dry-weather running in Ferrari's 2026 car, completing 87 laps on Thursday and praising the team's early reliability after a rain-disrupted start to pre-season testing in Barcelona.

Why it matters:

For a team embarking on a massive technical regulation change and integrating a high-profile new driver, accumulating trouble-free mileage is the primary objective of winter testing. Hamilton's positive feedback on reliability and his ability to complete a full program marks a crucial, confidence-building first step for the Scuderia, contrasting with more problematic starts in recent years.

The details:

• Ferrari opted for a Tuesday-Thursday-Friday testing schedule in Barcelona, with both Charles Leclerc and Hamilton running on a wet Tuesday before the seven-time champion got his first proper dry track time on Thursday.
• Hamilton described the 87-lap morning session as "amazing," directly crediting the work done at the Maranello factory for the car's initial reliability.
• He contrasted this start favorably to Ferrari's more difficult beginning in 2025, noting, "Last year we had a worse start to testing, so considering it's a completely new band of rules, it's better than we've experienced in the past."
• The running focused on understanding the new car and its tires, with Hamilton sampling the C1 and C2 compound tires during his stint.
• Leclerc took over driving duties in the afternoon, with Hamilton observing from the pit wall as the team executed different run plans to gather varied data.

What's next:

The team's immediate focus remains on maximizing track time and learning before the season opener.

• Hamilton stated the plan for the final test day on Friday is to continue building mileage and knowledge on the new power unit and aerodynamic package, using the data collected from both drivers to make "clear and concise decisions" on what to test next.
• All learnings from Barcelona will be funneled into preparations for the first race of the 2026 season in Bahrain, where the true competitive order will begin to emerge.