Lewis Hamilton says new-look 2026 F1 cars 'more fun' after Ferrari's promising start to testing at Barcelona shakedown
Seven-time world champion also says he feels "the winning mentality in every single person in the team" at Ferrari "more than ever" heading into new campaign; watch every round of the 2026 season live on Sky Sports F1, starting with the Australian Grand Prix on March 6-8
Saturday 31 January 2026 13:24, UK
Lewis Hamilton said he was finding F1's new-style 2026 cars "more fun" to drive after an encouraging start to pre-season for Ferrari at the Barcelona shakedown.
The seven-time world champion made no secret of his dislike of the last era of cars from 2022, which featured ground-effect aerodynamics, saying towards the end of last season that there was "not a single thing I will miss about these cars".
The 2022-2025 era coincided with Hamilton's least successful period in F1, with the Briton outscored by his team-mates (George Russell at Mercedes and Charles Leclerc at Ferrari) in three of those four seasons.
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But F1 has moved to nimbler, narrower chassis with more conventional floors for reduced downforce for 2026 as part of a wholesale rewriting of the the technical rulebook.
After completing 209 laps in Ferrari's new SF-26 across three days of running in Spain, Hamilton said: "The car generation is actually a little bit more fun to drive
"It's oversteery and snappy and sliding, but it's a little bit easier to catch and I would definitely say more enjoyable."
Hamilton said it had got a lot out of the first pre-season test.
"It's been a really enjoyable week, honestly," he said.
"I think a huge amount of work over the winter on my side, personal side, but then what the team have done over the winter to make changes going into the test."
The 41-year-old also said he felt good energy from inside Ferrari as the team bid to bounce back from the major disappointment of their winless 2025.
"We've had great debriefs, everyone's really on it," added Hamilton.
"I really feel the winning mentality in every single person in the team more than ever, so it's a positive."
'Everyone's really coming with new energy this year'
As for early performance from their new car on the track, Ferrari were the only team other than Mercedes to complete over 400 laps at the test, with Hamilton's quickest lap time on the final afternoon proving a tenth of a second faster than Russell's benchmark effort from the day before.
But Hamilton stressed: "I mean, we're under no illusions. We know we've got work to do.
"Mercedes have done great running as well. I think Red Bull and Haas did some great running as well, so we don't really know where we are, but I think it's a solid first week and we can really build from here.
"So there may be some big leaps that we're going to need to take. Development's going to be key.
"Just really making sure we leave no stone unturned and we're just really clear and concise with our communication and the decisions we take.
"It's going to take all of us to be at our best. I'm just seeing that everyone's really coming with new energy this year, which is great."
When is F1 Bahrain pre-season testing?
The introduction of new regulations means there is a robust schedule of three separate testing events before the start of the 2026 season.
With the closed Barcelona Shakedown now complete, F1 will next head to Bahrain for two 'official' pre-season tests, when media will be present and live timing from the circuit available.
Two three-day Bahrain tests take place on February 11-13 and 18-20.
When is the first F1 race?
The teams then have two weeks to prepare for the opening round of the season, which is the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne from March 6-8.
The first practice sessions of the season will take place on Friday March 6, with Qualifying on Saturday March 7 and the opening race on Sunday March 8.
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
