Lewis Hamilton says he feels “more connected” to Ferrari’s 2026 car than its predecessor and that he is “really excited” to see what the team can achieve this season.
The seven-time world champion endured a torrid first campaign with the Italian squad after his blockbuster switch from Mercedes, as he went a full season without a grand prix podium for the first time in his career.
However, Ferrari have made an encouraging start to the 2026 pre-season, establishing themselves as one of the early favourites ahead of the start of the third and final test event, which began in Bahrain on Wednesday.
Speaking before driving in the afternoon session on Wednesday, Hamilton was asked by Sky Sports whether he felt the most optimistic he had done ahead of season in the last five years.
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“I don’t remember the last five years, but maybe, yeah,” Hamilton said. “I always try to enter into a season with confidence, but of course, you’re faced with all sorts of different challenges along the way.
“I’ve obviously gone through quite a bit, and for me, all of last year is behind me. I spent a lot of time rebuilding over this winter, refocusing, really getting my body and mind to a much better place.
“I genuinely feel, personally, in the best place that I’ve been in a long time, with rearranging things within my team.
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Jenson Button admitted it was ‘tough’ to see former team-mate Lewis Hamilton struggling during his first season with Ferrari, but he backs the seven-time world champion to improve this year.
“And then with the car, I think we’ve started off quite well so far. It’s an exciting time with the new generation of cars, because it’s all brand new, we’re all trying to figure it out on the go.
“Last year we were locked into a car that ultimately, I inherited. This is a car that I’ve been able to be a part of developing on the simulator, and so a bit of my DNA is within. I’m more connected to this one, for sure.”
‘I have 100 per cent faith in this team’
Despite having finished a disappointing fourth in last year’s Constructors’ Championship, Ferrari have an immediate opportunity to bounce back with the introduction of both new power units and chassis for 2026 offering a reset.
Hamilton cut a frustrated figure at times during his first year in red, but insists his faith in the team hasn’t wavered and that he always knew transforming Ferrari wasn’t going to be “an overnight thing”.
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He said: “My belief in the team is still absolutely the same. [I have] 100 per cent faith in this team and what they’re capable of, and that’s why I joined the team.
“I knew it wasn’t going to be an overnight thing where we had success immediately. That’s why I signed a longer deal, because I knew that more often than not, it’s a process.
“I feel like we’ve also learned a huge amount from last year as a team, and there have been changes that we’ve made.
“Everyone’s constantly keen to make improvements and be better, so I think we’re working better together than ever before, so I’m excited for that moving forward.”
Sky Sports F1’s Bahrain Testing schedule
Thursday February 19
- 6.50am-11.05am: Morning session Live
- 11.55am-4.10pm: Afternoon session Live
- 8pm: Testing Wrap
Friday February 20
- 6.50am-11.05am: Morning session Live
- 11.55am-4.10pm: Afternoon session Live
- 8pm: Testing Wrap
Watch every race of the 2026 F1 season live on Sky Sports, starting with the Australian Grand Prix from March 6-8. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
