Lewis Hamilton Praises Ferrari Effort After Barcelona Test 2026

Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Lewis Hamilton has praised the extensive work carried out by Scuderia Ferrari over the winter break after the SF-26 completed the Barcelona pre-season test without encountering any “major problems” throughout the five-day programme.

Hamilton first took to the track on Tuesday afternoon in wet conditions, an experience the seven-time world champion later described as particularly valuable. He returned to the cockpit on Thursday and again on Friday afternoon, where he closed the test by setting the fastest lap during the final hour of running.

On the final day, Hamilton recorded a benchmark time of 1:16.348 to finish as the quickest driver of the entire Barcelona test. In addition to the headline lap time, the Briton completed a total of 204 laps of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, underlining the SF-26’s strong early reliability under the new technical regulations.

The outcome has left Hamilton feeling optimistic about Ferrari’s starting point for the 2026 Formula 1 season, especially given the scale of regulatory change. The absence of significant technical issues across the test was viewed as a key positive, providing a solid foundation for further development.

“It’s been a really productive and enjoyable week,” Hamilton said.

“There has been a huge amount of work over the winter, both personally and from everyone in the team, and it’s good to see that reflected in the mileage we’ve been able to complete without major issues.”

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Hamilton also highlighted the value of running in challenging conditions early in the test, particularly in accelerating his understanding of the new car’s behaviour.

“Driving in wet conditions early on was actually a valuable experience, especially with a new car, and overall it’s been a solid start,” he added.

Despite topping the timesheets, Hamilton stressed that the Barcelona test represents only an initial step, with detailed data analysis now required before Ferrari heads into the next phase of pre-season running. Two three-day tests in Bahrain are scheduled for next month, where the team expects to build on the foundations established in Spain.

“There’s still a lot to learn and plenty of work to do, but the atmosphere in the team is positive and focused,” Hamilton said.

“Now we’ll take everything we’ve learned, continue analysing the data and prepare carefully for the Bahrain test.”

With a stable baseline established and strong mileage completed, Ferrari will now concentrate on refining the SF-26 and validating performance trends as preparations intensify ahead of the opening rounds of the 2026 Formula 1 season.