COUNTDOWN TO MELBOURNE—LEWIS HAMILTON’S FULL PRE-SEASON SCHEDULE FOR JANUARY AND FEBRUARY
Lewis Hamilton turns 41! Read his heartfelt message on disconnecting, the Year of the Horse, and his 2026 Ferrari test schedule.
Lewis Hamilton turned 41 this week and took a moment to reach out to his fans, sharing a heartfelt message as he looks to bounce back with Ferrari this season.
Last year was rough for him—no podiums, not even once, which is a first in his 19 years of racing. He didn’t sugarcoat it, calling the season “very draining.”
After all that, Hamilton decided to really unplug during the off-season. He spent most of his winter break in the US, far from the racetrack. On his birthday, he hopped on Instagram to talk to his 42 million followers.
He wrote, “Another return, I’m incredibly grateful for this break. Time to disconnect, recharge, and find a bit of inner peace. Time with family and friends, replenishing with rest and good laughs, has been everything I needed after a very draining year.
In a world that moves so fast, where we’re constantly being pulled in so many directions, truly disconnecting has been the most amazing feeling.”
He also mentioned the Chinese New Year—this year is the Year of the Horse. He pointed out it’s a good moment for change, for starting new routines and dropping old habits. “Let go of things that don’t serve you,” he said. “It can take time, and sometimes you can’t get rid of everything at once, but it starts with that first step. Even though the world can seem like a mess, I hope you’re staying focused on living life to the fullest.”
Hamilton also thanked his fans for sticking with him during a tough 2025, a year that brought not just tough races but also the loss of his beloved bulldog, Roscoe.
“Be you and never forget who you are,” he said. “I learned that from so many of you who told me this in 2025, and I’ll never forget again! Your support means the world to me, and I’m here for you, too. You are never alone. Let’s take it one day at a time, one step at a time.”
Looking ahead, Hamilton will be at Ferrari’s 2026 F1 car livery launch in Maranello on January 23, then hit the track at Fiorano for a shakedown. After that, there’s a private test in Barcelona from January 26 to 30, followed by two official sessions in Bahrain in February.
The season kicks off in Melbourne on March 8, and Hamilton’s still chasing that record-breaking eighth world title.
SERGIO PEREZ BREAKS SILENCE ON CADILLAC’S FIRST FOUR RACES OF 2026 F1 SEASON
Discover why Sergio Perez is confident in Cadillac’s 2026 path despite urgent needs for better pace and reliability fixes.
Sergio Perez didn’t waste time sharing his thoughts on Cadillac after the first four races of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Cadillac shows up in 2026 as F1’s newest team, but honestly, not a lot of people expected fireworks right away. With veterans like Valtteri Bottas and Perez behind the wheel, the team’s start has been a mix, some moments full of promise, others derailed by reliability issues.
Still, Cadillac isn’t just stuck at the back. Lately, they’ve been right there fighting with Aston Martin and even managed to split them in Miami, which turned a few heads.
Perez knows the team is at risk of falling behind in this crazy-fast development race, though. “We still have work to do, but I’m confident we’re on the right path,” he told reporters, including Motorsport Week.
He added, “Sometimes, once tyre degradation sets in, we can hang with the midfield, but they always seem to find another gear. There’s a long way to go this season, but we’re in a rush to find more pace. We know Aston will get stronger, and we don’t want to be left behind.”
Racing Aston Martin has actually brought Perez some enjoyment. He especially likes battling Fernando Alonso, calling those fights fair and satisfying. Still, he pointed out a weak spot: “We’re having fun with them. Racing Fernando is always great because he’s so fair. But we struggled with tyre degradation; we burnt through them too quickly. We picked the hard compound, but honestly, looking back, I should’ve gone with the soft.”
He said there’s plenty to analyse, and really, the key is getting a better grip on their car as they look ahead to Canada. “We don’t have much time, but in the short term, we need to fix the degradation. We have some ideas, but putting them together is our biggest challenge in the next few weeks.”
Cadillac may be the new kid on the block and still finding its feet, but it’s already starting to make an impact. The road out of the lower ranks won’t be easy, but they’re moving in the right direction.
HOW KIMI ANTONELLI’S THREE-RACE WIN STREAK IS REDEFINING THE MERCEDES TEAM HIERARCHY
With a 43-second gap in Miami, Antonelli proves he’s ready to lead the World Championship. Can Russell bounce back in Canada?
David Coulthard, the former Formula 1 driver, recently pointed out that Kimi Antonelli might be on track to overtake George Russell as Mercedes’ team leader.
Antonelli has been on an impressive run, clinching victories in the last three races and pulling ahead by 20 points over his main competitor and teammate, Russell.
At the Miami race, the young Italian once again outperformed his more seasoned teammate, with Russell managing only fourth place, trailing by 43 seconds.
Coulthard acknowledged Antonelli’s rapid rise in 2026, which is just his second season in F1. He highlighted Antonelli’s strengths and suggested that the Italian is, in many ways, now leading the Mercedes team.
“He’s come of age,” Coulthard said during the Up To Speed podcast.
Despite being relatively new, Antonelli has shown resilience, dealing not only with the pressure from a driver like Lando ready to strike but also with technical glitches like inconsistent paddle shifts. Coulthard mentioned how Antonelli kept his cool even when his engineer, Bono, was trying to help troubleshoot the issue in a tense moment.
“I think he’s earned the right to lead the World Championship,” Coulthard added, noting that this situation probably feels uncomfortable for George. Still, the expectations now lean heavily toward Antonelli leading the team, especially based on recent results.
Coulthard also pointed out that Russell has the experience and skill to reclaim his position as the team’s lead driver, but emphasised that only one can come out on top; someone must finish first and the other second.
The rivalry between them might start opening doors for other teams. Coulthard noted that improvements from McLaren, Ferrari, and Red Bull were already noticeable, especially in Miami.
“Winning in the best car isn’t always straightforward. Many have tried and struggled,” he said.
For Russell, who is feeling the weight of this momentum shift, the upcoming race in Canada will be crucial if he wants to close the gap and halt Antonelli’s winning streak.
