Hamilton Reveals ADHD, Makes Post-Testing Calls as F1 Season Nears

Lewis Hamilton revealed he has ADHD and detailed his attempts to gather intelligence from rivals Toto Wolff and Zak Brown after pre-season testing, as the F1 world prepares for the 2026 season opener in Australia. Meanwhile, Mercedes received a boost with its fuel homologation, and Red Bull's new power unit exceeded internal expectations.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's personal revelation adds a new layer to understanding the seven-time champion's career, while his outreach to rival team principals underscores the intense competitive curiosity and information-gathering that defines the off-season. The successful homologation of key components like Mercedes' fuel is a critical, behind-the-scenes hurdle that can make or break a team's early competitiveness under new regulations.

The details:

• Hamilton's ADHD Revelation: The Ferrari driver stated "I'm ADHD" in a Formula 1 media segment where drivers shared surprising personal facts, offering insight into his personal life beyond the track.
• Post-Testing Intelligence Gathering: Hamilton called former boss Toto Wolff (Mercedes) and McLaren CEO Zak Brown after Bahrain testing to "try to understand what they learned," but admitted he "got no results" from the attempts.
• Mercedes Fuel Homologated: The FIA has officially approved the new, fully sustainable Petronas fuel for Mercedes, a vital procedural step ahead of the Australian Grand Prix following a complex homologation process for 2026.
• Red Bull Powertrains Exceeds Expectations: Red Bull junior driver Isack Hadjar admitted he had "many doubts" about the new in-house RBPT-Ford power unit, but said the team's strong winter performance has "cleared" those concerns, with the engine performing "way beyond" expectations.
• Alpine Signs Alex Dunne: The Alpine Academy confirmed the signing of F2 talent Alex Dunne, finalizing a deal after the Irish driver's split from McLaren and a collapsed move to Red Bull's junior program last year.

What's next:

All focus now shifts to the track for the Australian Grand Prix, where the true competitive order will begin to crystallize. Mercedes and Ferrari enter as favorites, but the performance of new components like Mercedes' fuel and Red Bull's engine in race conditions will be closely watched, setting the initial narrative for the 2026 championship fight.