Lewis Hamilton's Wet but Productive Ferrari Debut in Barcelona
Lewis Hamilton called his first wet-weather run in Ferrari's 2026 car a "really productive" day after completing 120 laps in a Barcelona shakedown. The test provided vital early data on the new-spec machinery, with Hamilton praising the team's reliability and targeting dry running to understand the car's full potential.
Lewis Hamilton completed a wet but "really productive" first outing in Ferrari's SF-26 during a private Barcelona shakedown, logging valuable mileage despite challenging conditions. The seven-time champion, sharing the car with teammate Charles Leclerc, emphasized the importance of gathering data on F1's new 2026 machinery, praising the team's reliability on a day where only Ferrari and Red Bull dared to run.
Why it matters:
This shakedown marks Hamilton's first real-world experience with the car he will campaign in 2026, a pivotal season featuring major technical regulation changes. Successfully navigating a full day of wet-weather running without major issues provides a crucial early confidence boost for both the driver and the Scuderia, setting a foundation for the development work ahead.
The Details:
- The test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was hit by rain from mid-morning, limiting Leclerc's dry running and forcing Hamilton to conduct his entire afternoon session on wet tires.
- Despite the conditions, the team completed approximately 120 laps across the day, a solid tally considering the weather and a red flag period caused by a crash for Red Bull's Isack Hadjar.
- Hamilton highlighted the team's effort, stating he was "really proud of everyone back at the factory" for delivering a car that could run reliably through such a significant regulation change on its first proper track outing.
- The focus was on understanding fundamental new car behaviors, including getting the tires to work in the wet and beginning to assess systems like energy deployment.
What's next:
With two remaining test days available to them in Barcelona, Hamilton's immediate goal is straightforward: to drive the SF-26 in the dry. He aims to properly evaluate the car's balance and begin mastering the new straightline mode (SM) for active aerodynamics, which was not usable in the wet. Understanding the optimized deployment and management of the hybrid battery power will be a critical learning curve as Ferrari continues its 2026 preparation.