Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Lewis Hamilton says he is in a far happier position heading into the 2026 Formula 1 season with Ferrari after enduring a difficult debut campaign with the Italian team in 2025.
The seven-time world champion struggled to adapt to Ferrari’s challenger during his first year in Maranello, ending the season without a single podium finish for the first time in his Formula 1 career. The results prompted questions about his decision to leave Mercedes, the team with which he secured the majority of his championship titles.
In the lead-up to the new season, Hamilton has shared several encouraging messages and reaffirmed his commitment to the sport. After completing a solid pre-season testing programme with Ferrari’s new car, the British driver said he already feels a significant improvement in his relationship with the team.
“Massively different compared to the first year.”
“It’s a much nicer feeling after spending a full year with the team, understanding the culture and discovering the best ways for us to work together.”
“We’re in a good place now as a team. I feel very gelled with everyone and I’m much happier.”
Hamilton also highlighted the cultural differences he experienced after moving from British-based teams to Ferrari’s Italian environment. Before joining Ferrari, Hamilton spent the majority of his career racing for McLaren and Mercedes.
“It’s mainly the culture, the difference in the way the team operates compared to what I experienced with British teams.”
“It’s about getting to know each other better, having a lot of meetings, discussions and improving communication.”
According to Hamilton, building strong relationships within Ferrari required extensive time at the team’s factory and continuous dialogue across different departments.
“Spending time at the factory is very important. I did a lot of that last year and I continue to do so.”
“Asking for change is one thing, but creating alliances and showing why change benefits the whole team is a journey we need to go through together.”
Hamilton added that Ferrari is now significantly better prepared for the upcoming season after what he described as a steep learning curve during his first year with the squad.
“Last year was such a steep learning curve because we were learning as we went.”
“But we are much more prepared this year, and that’s something that really excites me.”
With renewed confidence and stronger integration within Ferrari, Hamilton believes the project he joined still holds strong long-term potential as the 2026 Formula 1 season approaches.
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