Lewis Hamilton completes first laps in Ferrari SF-26 at Fiorano shakedown

Lewis Hamilton has officially turned his first laps in Ferrari’s SF-26 during a shakedown at Fiorano, marking a significant milestone in his move to the Scuderia. The new car, built for the sweeping 2026 regulation overhaul, features a lighter chassis, active aerodynamics, and a revolutionary power unit with a 50/50 split between electrical and combustion power.

Why it matters:

This shakedown represents the real-world debut of Formula 1's next generation of cars and the symbolic start of the Hamilton era at Maranello. With massive technical changes shaking up the competitive order, these initial kilometers are vital for validating Ferrari's design philosophy. The team is under pressure to ensure reliability early on, as the condensed testing schedule leaves little room for error before the first race.

The Details:

• Spec A Approach: Team principal Fred Vasseur confirmed the car running is "Spec A," focused purely on mileage and reliability rather than performance. With only nine test days available compared to previous eras, avoiding early-season DNFs is the priority.
• Tech Specs: The 2026 machinery is notably shorter and lighter than the 2025 model. The integration of active aerodynamics and the new power unit architecture represents the biggest technical shift in the sport in over a decade.
• Tifosi Reception: Despite cold and grey conditions at Fiorano, passionate fans began lining the track at 5 AM to catch a glimpse of Hamilton in red, underscoring the global excitement surrounding this driver-team pairing.

What's next:

Ferrari will transport the SF-26 to Spain early next week for a five-day, behind-closed-doors test. Teams are restricted to running on just three of those days to manage costs. The action then moves to Bahrain for two official pre-season tests in February, before the season opener at the Australian Grand Prix on March 8.