Hamilton credits intense winter, Christmas decision for return to peak form at Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton says he is back to his best both mentally and physically in his debut Ferrari season, crediting an intense winter training regime and a pivotal decision made on Christmas Day for his strong start, which included a first podium for the team in China.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's return to peak performance is a significant storyline in the 2026 season, as the seven-time world champion adapts to a new team for the first time in over a decade. His form is crucial for Ferrari's championship ambitions and signals that, despite his age, he remains a top-tier competitor capable of challenging at the front.

The details:

• Hamilton described the past winter as the "heaviest and most intense" training period of his career, attributing the increased workload partly to the demands of being an older athlete who takes longer to recover.
• A key turning point was a conscious decision made on Christmas Day, where he mapped out his mental and physical approach for the season ahead, committing to a renewed focus.
• He reunited with a previous trainer on that same day, forming a crucial partnership for his preparation.
• The internal shift at Ferrari has also been positive, with Hamilton highlighting great team morale and a productive relationship with his new race engineer.
• He expressed gratitude that the engineering team listened to his feedback on car development from late last year and incorporated some of his requested changes into the 2026 car, making him feel "more united" with the team.

What's next:

Hamilton is optimistic there is more performance to extract, stating he is still learning the car, particularly its energy deployment. He views the current progress as a foundation for a "big, big push" moving forward, with his immediate focus on returning to the factory in Maranello to continue the development work with the team.