Lewis Hamilton says he feels “massively excited” after driving Ferrari’s new SF-26 for the first time, describing the moment as a genuine fresh start as Formula 1 prepares for the most sweeping regulation overhaul in generations. The seven-time world champion completed a short shakedown at Fiorano alongside Charles Leclerc, beginning preparations for what will be his 20th season in Formula 1 — and only his second with Ferrari after a difficult debut campaign in red.
The Fiorano run came just 47 days after Hamilton finished his maiden Ferrari season in December. While 2025 delivered moments of promise — including a Sprint victory in China — Ferrari failed to win a single grand prix, leaving the team eager for a reset. For Hamilton, the arrival of an entirely new ruleset has created the perfect opportunity to start again.
“I’m massively excited… excited for new beginnings,” Hamilton said, admitting that he rarely approaches testing with such enthusiasm. This time, however, the scale of the technical change — combined with Ferrari’s internal rebuild — has clearly refreshed both driver and team.
One of the most striking innovations Hamilton experienced during the run was Formula 1’s new active aero system, which allows cars to adjust aerodynamic surfaces dynamically depending on speed and race conditions. It marks a major shift in how drivers manage performance over a lap and through a race, adding a layer of tactical complexity to energy deployment and cornering balance.
Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur confirmed that the shakedown was purely about systems checks and data gathering rather than outright pace. Only a handful of laps were completed, but the objective was to validate baseline performance ahead of a busy testing schedule, beginning in Spain next week.
The wider paddock is bracing for what many see as the most demanding technical transition in modern F1 history. The new power units combine 50 per cent internal combustion and 50 per cent electrical energy, placing unprecedented emphasis on energy management, software integration and real-time decision-making from drivers. Hamilton described the 2026 regulations as “probably the biggest challenge” of his career, highlighting how central drivers will now be to unlocking performance.
That complexity has already caught out at least one team. Williams announced they will miss the first pre-season test after failing to complete their new car in time — a stark reminder of how difficult the engineering task has become. Their absence underlines the scale of the challenge Hamilton has been referring to, and how fragile early preparation can be in a regulation reset.
Adding further tension to the build-up, Ferrari — alongside Audi and Honda — has raised formal concerns over a potential loophole in engine regulations. The issue centres on whether Mercedes and Red Bull may be exploiting thermal expansion of power unit components to increase compression ratios once the engines are running, potentially gaining up to three-tenths of a second per lap. Talks with the FIA have so far failed to resolve the dispute, meaning the controversy could carry into the opening races of the season.
Despite the political uncertainty and technical complexity, the atmosphere around Ferrari’s launch was notably optimistic. Fans gathered outside Fiorano as Hamilton took the SF-26 onto the circuit, later describing the sensation of feeling the car fire up as something that “vibrates through your body”. For him, reconnecting with Ferrari’s engineers and tifosi has been as important as any performance metric.
Leclerc echoed that sentiment, calling the new cars one of the biggest driving challenges in F1 history. He said drivers must effectively “relearn” large parts of their craft, from braking techniques to race management, due to the interaction between hybrid systems, active aerodynamics and energy recovery.
For Hamilton, the stakes are clear. After a 2025 season in which Ferrari managed only a Sprint win and no grand prix victories, expectations around the SF-26 are high. With the sport undergoing a full technical reset, the coming year offers a rare opportunity to reshape the competitive order — and potentially redefine the latter chapter of one of the greatest careers in Formula 1 history.
Standing in Ferrari red at Fiorano, waving to fans and preparing to head into pre-season testing, Hamilton appeared energised rather than reflective. As he put it, this moment is not about what came before, but about “showing up in the right way” for what lies ahead — and embracing the unknown of Formula 1’s boldest new era.
