Lewis Hamilton has wasted little time in signalling optimism about Ferrari’s future, offering glowing early feedback on the Scuderia’s SF26 and describing the car as a fitting symbol of Formula 1’s “new era”.
Fresh from his first meaningful mileage in Ferrari red, the seven-time world champion sounded energised by both the feel of the car and the broader direction of the 2026 regulations.
Hamilton’s initial impressions centre on something drivers rarely shy away from admitting they miss, enjoyment. His frustrations last season over the SF-25 were well documented. Coupled with the loss of his beloved English Bulldog Roscoe – it made 2025 a tough year for Hamilton. To see him enjoy his job again was a sight to relish.
The SF26, developed under the new technical framework, has delivered a driving experience he believes is more engaging and more natural than the ground effect generation that preceded it.
Where recent cars often demanded absolute precision on a knife edge, Hamilton feels the Ferrari allows for more expression behind the wheel, sliding when pushed but remaining predictable and recoverable. That characteristic, he suggested, reconnects the driver to the car.
“The car generation is actually a little bit more fun to drive. I would definitely say more enjoyable,” Hamilton was quoted saying on SkySports F1. “It’s honestly been a really enjoyable week,” he said just after the Barcelona shakedown concluded.
Fred Vasseur leads the red berets out this season again as Team Principal, with Loic Serra serving as head designer and in charge of chassis development. Enrico Gaultieri will be responsible for the development of the new regulation power unit and Franck Sanchez overseeing aerodynamic development.
The SF26 responds cleanly to inputs, particularly through medium speed corners, and feels less reliant on ultra narrow operating windows. For Hamilton, who has driven through multiple regulation cycles, that marks a refreshing shift.
It is also a key reason why he has spoken positively about the “new era” F1 hopes to usher in from 2026 onwards. Ferrari’s engineering group has leaned heavily into that philosophy.
The SF26 is designed around efficiency and balance rather than brute aerodynamic load, reflecting the sport’s move towards lighter, more agile machinery.
Hamilton acknowledged there is still plenty to refine, especially as teams uncover performance across different circuits, but the underlying platform has impressed him.
“Just to see the mileage that we’ve been out to get, I’m really grateful. I’m really feeling the winning mentality in every single person in the team more than ever,” Hamilton explained.
Beyond the car itself, Hamilton’s comments also reflect confidence in Ferrari’s long-term vision. He has praised the collaboration between the technical department and the drivers, noting that feedback is being translated quickly into setup and development direction.
That sense of alignment is critical as Ferrari aims to turn promise into championships. While it is far too early to draw competitive conclusions, Hamilton’s tone stands out.
It is the voice of a driver who feels re-engaged, challenged and excited by what lies ahead. Besides the car, they’ve also heeded his call to replace his last season engineer Ricardo Adami, with whom he clearly had friction that caused some crucial communication errors between the two. Even to the point of fans feeling the tension between the two. Adami was moved to the Ferrari academy to see out his days. (If I had to be crass. He deserves it.)
For Ferrari, that endorsement carries weight. Hamilton’s career has been defined by his ability to sense when a project has genuine potential. He isn’t just a good driver, but someone worth listening to when developing a car because of his experience in the sport.
As Formula 1 edges closer to 2026, the SF26 may not yet be a finished article, but Hamilton’s early praise suggests Ferrari has laid strong foundations. If this truly is the dawn of a new era, then Hamilton believes he has arrived at exactly the right place.
Who knows, maybe the eighth title maybe possible after all.
