Lewis Hamilton Expresses Renewed Confidence Ahead of 2026 Formula One Campaign
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has declared he is in the best personal and professional place he has been for a considerable period, expressing significant excitement for the prospects of the upcoming Formula One season. This positive outlook follows a notably difficult debut year with the Ferrari team, during which Hamilton failed to secure a single podium finish and ultimately concluded the championship in sixth position.
A Challenging Debut Season with the Scuderia
The 2025 season proved to be a stern test for the British racing icon. His integration into the Ferrari squad was marred by performance struggles, with a particularly challenging conclusion to the campaign. Hamilton did not qualify higher than 13th place in the final four races of the season, highlighting the extent of the difficulties faced by both driver and team.
This period of adversity came after Hamilton's move from Mercedes, where he secured his seventh and most recent world championship title back in 2020. The subsequent ground-effect era of Formula One cars did not yield substantial success for him, and Ferrari as a constructor failed to win a race throughout the entire 2025 season.
Major Regulatory Overhaul and Pre-Season Promise
The sport is now on the cusp of a significant transformation, with the 2026 season introducing sweeping regulation changes. These modifications encompass engines, chassis design, fuel specifications, and tyre compounds, effectively creating a new generation of Formula One machinery.
Early indications from pre-season testing have been encouraging for the Maranello-based team. Ferrari delivered impressive mileage and reliability during the initial test session in Bahrain last week, providing a foundation of optimism ahead of the new campaign's commencement.
Hamilton's Personal Reset and Technical Involvement
Speaking at the second pre-season test in Bahrain, Hamilton revealed a concerted effort to move beyond the tribulations of the previous year. "I've left everything, all of last year, behind me," Hamilton stated. "I really felt that I spent a lot of time rebuilding over this winter, refocusing, really getting my body and my mind to a much better place."
He elaborated on his current state, noting, "In general, just making sure that I'm able to arrive feeling better. And I would say I generally feel personally in the best place that I've been in a long, long time." This personal rejuvenation is coupled with technical involvement, a contrast to his experience with the previous season's car.
"Last year we were locked into a car that ultimately I inherited," Hamilton explained. "This is a car that I've been able to be a part of developing on the simulator for the last 10 months. And so a bit of my DNA is within it. I'm more connected to this one for sure."
Navigating New Regulations and Long-Term Faith
The new regulatory framework has already sparked debate within the paddock, with reigning champion Max Verstappen criticising aspects such as the increased emphasis on energy management. Hamilton acknowledged the complexity of the new rules but remains focused on the opportunity they present.
His commitment to the Ferrari project appears undimmed, despite the team's championship drought which stretches back to Kimi Raikkonen's drivers' title in 2007. The 2025 season was a particular disappointment, as Ferrari entered with expectations of contending for championships but finished as the clear fourth-best team.
The 41-year-old driver emphasised a long-term perspective and lessons learned. "My belief in the team is still absolutely the same. I understand the faith in this team and what they're capable of and that's why I joined the team," Hamilton affirmed. "I knew it wasn't going to be an overnight thing where we'd have success immediately. That's why I signed a longer deal because I knew more often than not it's a process."
He concluded with a note of collaborative progress, stating, "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. I think we're working better together than ever before so I'm excited for that moving forward." With a refreshed mindset, deeper technical involvement, and a radically new car, Lewis Hamilton approaches the 2026 Formula One season with a palpable sense of optimism and determination.
