Jonas Leo
Formula 1 veteran Lewis Hamilton has offered an early, positive assessment of the sport’s forthcoming car generation, declaring the prototypes for the 2026 regulations "more fun to drive" than their predecessors. The seven-time world champion, who is preparing for his 18th season in Formula 1 and has navigated five major regulation overhauls throughout his illustrious career, provided insights following a shakedown test of Ferrari’s SF-26 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. His comments carry significant weight, given his unparalleled experience and his vocal opinions on car characteristics across various eras, particularly after a "gruelling" experience with the ground-effect cars introduced from 2022 to 2025.
Hamilton’s initial evaluation of the Maranello machine, which first saw track action during a filming day at Fiorano last week before its official track debut in Barcelona, signals a potential shift towards a more driver-friendly dynamic in the sport’s future. During the shakedown, the British driver unofficially recorded the fastest lap with a time of 1m16.348s. His contributions, alongside teammate Charles Leclerc, helped Ferrari accumulate a substantial 444 laps at the Spanish circuit, providing crucial early data on the nascent design.
The core of Hamilton’s renewed optimism stems from the car’s handling characteristics. He observed that the new F1 cars exhibit a more forgiving nature compared to the high-strung, "knife-edge stability" that defined the ground-effect machines of the preceding era. "The car generation is actually a little bit more fun to drive," Hamilton stated to F1 following the Barcelona shakedown. "It’s oversteery and snappy and sliding, but it’s a little bit easier to catch. I would definitely say more enjoyable." This nuanced description suggests a vehicle that, while still challenging, allows drivers a greater margin for error and potentially encourages more expressive driving styles, a sentiment often echoed by fans and drivers seeking a return to more engaging on-track battles.
The contrast with the 2022-2025 ground-effect regulations is stark. That era, introduced with the aim of promoting closer racing through simplified aerodynamics and increased ground effect, often drew criticism from drivers for its rigid handling, propensity for ‘porpoising’ (an aerodynamic bouncing phenomenon), and the physical toll it exacted. Hamilton himself was a prominent voice in highlighting the discomfort and difficulty associated with those cars, noting the challenges in extracting maximum performance while battling unpredictable aerodynamic characteristics. His current positive feedback for the 2026 prototypes therefore represents a significant endorsement, suggesting the new regulatory framework might be on the right track to address some of the previous generation’s shortcomings.
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While Hamilton’s initial feedback is overwhelmingly positive regarding the driving experience, he remained pragmatic about the road ahead for Ferrari. "But we definitely have work to do to improve, of course, like everybody does," he acknowledged. This statement underscores the early stage of development for these 2026 cars, with significant refinement expected over the next two years. However, he also conveyed a strong sense of purpose within the Ferrari camp: "I think we’ve had great debriefs. Everyone’s really on it. I really feel the winning mentality, like, in every single person in the team more than ever. So it’s a positive." This observation is particularly pertinent given Hamilton’s impending move to the Scuderia in 2025, suggesting an alignment with the team’s ambitions and a healthy environment for future development.
The shakedown program itself presented an unusual but valuable opportunity for data collection. Ferrari opted for an unconventional start to the week by running in wet conditions on Tuesday, a decision that proved strategically insightful. Hamilton was keen to experience the SF-26 in the rain, having faced a steep learning curve during his first wet-weather race in a Ferrari at the 2023 Australian Grand Prix. He described that initial experience as "very hard" and welcomed the chance to gain early knowledge of the 2026 car’s behaviour in adverse conditions. Notably, Red Bull was the only other team to join Ferrari on track once the rain arrived, indicating a shared recognition among top teams for the importance of early wet-weather data for future car development.
Reflecting on the entire shakedown week, Hamilton expressed satisfaction with Ferrari’s operational efficiency. "It’s been a really enjoyable week, honestly. I think a huge amount of work over the winter on my side, but then what the team has done over the winter to make changes going into the test [is positive]," he explained. He lauded the team’s ability to maintain consistency and minimise downtime, a testament to the factory’s diligent efforts. "Having consistency, not having problems… Of course, there’s always small things, but we didn’t really have any downtime moments, while I’m sure perhaps they could potentially come up in the next weeks, but otherwise it’s a really, really solid couple of days."
A key technical characteristic noted by Hamilton for the 2026 cars is a reduction in downforce compared to current specifications. "And then in terms of just understanding the car and the balance, we have a lot less downforce than previous years," he observed. This reduction is a deliberate objective of the 2026 regulations, which aim for lighter, smaller cars with revised aerodynamic packages, including active aerodynamics, to improve efficiency and racing spectacle. Less downforce generally translates to slower cornering speeds but can also lead to cars that are more sensitive to driver input and potentially more challenging to master at the limit, while also promoting closer following and overtaking opportunities. The "oversteery" and "snappy" description, combined with being "easier to catch," suggests a balance where the car provides more feedback and demands more from the driver, potentially leading to more visible driver skill on display.
Lewis Hamilton’s career statistics underscore his authority in assessing F1 machinery. With a record 103 Grand Prix victories, 104 pole positions, and 197 podium finishes, he has experienced a vast spectrum of F1 car designs and regulatory environments since his debut in 2007. His current engagement in the development of Ferrari’s 2026 challenger, even before his official transfer to the Scuderia, highlights the crucial role driver feedback plays in shaping the sport’s future technical direction. For Ferrari, securing such early insights from a driver of Hamilton’s calibre is invaluable, providing a head start in understanding the new regulations and fine-tuning their approach.
The 2026 regulations represent a significant overhaul, focusing on sustainability with new power unit architectures featuring an increased electrical component, alongside the aforementioned smaller, lighter chassis and active aerodynamics designed to reduce drag on straights and increase downforce in corners. These changes are intended to create a more relevant, exciting, and environmentally conscious Formula 1. Hamilton’s early positive feedback offers a promising outlook that, from a driver’s perspective, these ambitious technical directives are translating into a more engaging and enjoyable driving experience, potentially setting the stage for a thrilling new chapter in the sport’s history. The ongoing development work and subsequent testing will be critical in refining these prototypes, but Hamilton’s initial verdict provides a strong foundation of optimism for the road ahead.
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Author Profile
- Jonas Leo is a passionate motorsport journalist and lifelong Formula 1 enthusiast. With a sharp eye for race strategy and driver performance, he brings readers closer to the world of Grand Prix racing through in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive paddock insights. Jonas has covered everything from preseason testing to dramatic title deciders, capturing the emotion and precision that define modern F1. When he’s not tracking lap times or pit stop tactics, he enjoys exploring classic racing archives and writing about the evolution of F1 technology.
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