Hamilton 'Massively Excited' for Ferrari's 2026 New Era After First SF-26 Run

Lewis Hamilton declared himself "massively excited" for a "new beginning" after getting behind the wheel of Ferrari’s SF-26 for the first time. Just 47 days after concluding his debut season with the Scuderia, the seven-time champion joined teammate Charles Leclerc for a shakedown at Fiorano, marking the official start of Formula 1's latest technical era.

Why it matters:

The 2026 regulations represent a massive reset for the entire grid, featuring drastic changes to chassis, aerodynamics, power units, and fuel. For Ferrari, this timing is critical; pairing a mentally reset Hamilton with Leclerc under these new rules offers a rare opportunity to challenge the established order without the baggage of previous development deficits.

The Details:

• A Mental Reset: Breaking from his usual pre-season reserve, Hamilton admitted to feeling "massively excited." He emphasized that the short winter break was exactly what he needed to "undo patterns" and remove things that don't serve him, signaling a fresh psychological approach to his campaign.
• Uncharted Territory: Leclerc noted that the scale of change is unlike anything seen in F1 history, dwarfing the 2022 regulation shift. Drivers are having to relearn complex systems and adapt their driving styles significantly to extract performance from the new cars.
• The Unknown: Hamilton highlighted the intrigue of the upcoming Barcelona test, where teams will finally see the "tricks" and concepts rivals have developed. He stressed the importance of keeping "heads down" and focusing on Ferrari's own execution amidst the uncertainty.
• Smooth Start: Team principal Frederic Vasseur confirmed the Fiorano shakedown went to plan with no major issues, successfully gathering initial data despite completing only a handful of laps.

What's next:

The focus now shifts to Spain for the first official pre-season test in Barcelona, where the competitive order will begin to reveal itself. Teams will then head to Bahrain for two additional tests before the season opener at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 8.