Hamilton Reflects on 'Draining' Ferrari Start as Audi Fires Up 2026 Power Unit

Lewis Hamilton marked his 41st birthday with a candid social media post, reflecting on a 'draining' debut season with Ferrari and looking toward renewal. Meanwhile, the Audi F1 project celebrated a significant milestone, firing up its 2026 power unit in a complete chassis for the first time as its debut looms.

Why it matters:

• Hamilton's public acknowledgment of a difficult first year sets the stage for a critical 2026 season, where he and Ferrari will be under immense pressure to deliver results.
• For Audi, successfully running the power unit in the chassis is a tangible sign of progress, building credibility for their ambitious F1 entry and proving they are on schedule for their 2026 debut.

The details:

• Hamilton's Message: The seven-time world champion took to social media to share a lengthy message, describing his maiden campaign with the Scuderia as a "draining year." He emphasized the importance of resilience and expressed his focus on the new year as an opportunity for "change and new routines" after spending the break with loved ones.
• Audi's Milestone: The German manufacturer's F1 team announced it fired up its 2026 power unit while installed in the chassis at its Hinwil facility on December 19.
  • This marks the first time the complete Audi package has run as one unit.
  • The team is set to unveil its 2026 car on January 20 in Berlin.
  • Following the launch, Audi will head to Barcelona for its first closed-door testing session.

What's next:

All eyes will be on Ferrari and Hamilton to see how they translate this mindset into performance during the off-season development of their 2026 contender. For Audi, the upcoming car launch and initial track tests will provide the first real glimpse of their competitiveness and whether their promising progress will translate to on-track pace against established F1 powerhouses.