Hamilton feels Ferrari's 'winning mentality' in Barcelona test

Lewis Hamilton has described feeling a "new energy" and a clear "winning mentality" within Ferrari after topping the unofficial timesheets at the team's first pre-season shakedown in Barcelona. While cautioning that significant work remains, the seven-time champion was encouraged by a "solid" and problem-free test for the Scuderia.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's first impressions of Ferrari's internal culture are critical as he embarks on his final career chapter with the iconic team. After a difficult 2025 season for both driver and team, a positive and unified atmosphere is essential to mount a credible challenge against established frontrunners like Red Bull and Mercedes. His early praise suggests the team's operational mindset may be shifting in a more competitive direction.

The Details:

• The closed-door Barcelona test allowed teams to run their 2026 cars for the first time, with Ferrari completing 442 laps over three days—the second-highest tally behind only Mercedes.
• Unofficial reports placed Hamilton's best lap at a 1:16.348 on soft tires late on the final day, putting him at the top of the timesheets.
• Hamilton highlighted the value of a full wet-weather running day, a rarity in testing, noting it provided crucial experience he lacked before his difficult wet-race debut for Ferrari in 2025.
• The driver emphasized the team's consistency and lack of major downtime during the test, crediting the work from Maranello over the winter.
• In debriefs, Hamilton sensed a determined, focused attitude, stating he feels the winning mentality "in every single person in the team, more than ever."

What's next:

The real benchmark arrives with the official, televised pre-season tests in Bahrain. Ferrari will need to translate its positive shakedown vibe and reliability into performance gains.

• The first official test runs from February 11-13 in Bahrain, followed immediately by a second test from February 18-20 at the same circuit.
• Hamilton remains realistic, acknowledging that rivals like Mercedes and Red Bull also had strong running and that "big leaps" in development will be necessary before the season opener in Melbourne on March 8.