"FIRED UP": HAMILTON DESCRIBES THE VIBRATION OF FERRARI’S NEW 2026 HYBRID ENGINE
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc have completed the first shakedown of the Ferrari SF-26. Discover the 2026 specs and quotes.
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Lewis Hamilton can’t hide how excited he is about the 2026 season. Getting his hands on Ferrari’s new car for the first time after the big launch—it’s a moment he’s been waiting for. The SF-26 rolled out on Friday, and Hamilton jumped in for a shakedown at Fiorano, with Charles Leclerc taking his turn later. Seeing the car up close, feeling all those months of work come together, it really hit him.
“Just waking up here at Ferrari, it’s honestly something else,” Hamilton said, grinning like a kid. “I’ve spent the last week or so here, watching the car come together. You really see how hard everyone works—walking past their desks, catching the energy in the air.
“All those hours in the simulator, every bit of planning, and finally, you see the car in one piece. That’s the best part of the year for me. Everyone’s work, every little part from every department, finally fits together.
“And then, to be one of only two people who actually get to drive it? That’s wild. I’m just so grateful for the team’s effort.”
When he talks about the first drive out of the garage, you can hear the excitement in his voice. “There’s nothing like when they fire up the car—you feel the engine through your whole body. They open the door, and you head down to Turn 1, and the Tifosi are right there. That’s something I’ll never get over. Days like these remind me why I love racing and why I love this sport.”
Now, he’s counting down to more time in the car at the Barcelona Shakedown next week, then two tests in Bahrain, and finally, the season opener in Australia in early March.
“If you look back at my interviews, I never used to say I was excited, but now? I’m massively excited, and I don’t mind admitting it,” Hamilton said, sounding refreshed. “It’s about new beginnings. I really focused on resetting this winter—even though it was the shortest break we’ve had, it was exactly what I needed. I’ve been working on changing old habits, dropping things that don’t help me, and just trying to show up in the best way possible.
“I can’t wait for the first proper test. Today wasn’t about pushing the limits, but just being at Ferrari—man, that’s a cool feeling. Next week, we’ll really see what this new generation of cars can do.
“After that, it’s about figuring out what everyone else has—what tricks, what ideas, what different concepts are out there. For us, it’s just about keeping our heads down and focusing on our own job.
“The team feels refreshed. So much effort has gone in from every corner of Ferrari. It’s amazing to see. We’re going to run with this energy and take things one day at a time.”
Leclerc was just as excited as Hamilton at the Maranello launch. He admitted he couldn’t really judge much from his short time in the car, but he’d been waiting eagerly to try out the SF-26 for the first time.
“I was really looking forward to it,” he said. “There’s been so much talk and effort behind the scenes just to get us to this point. We wanted to see if the car would run properly, check the sensors, and find out if everything was working the way we hoped.”
Driving at Fiorano made the moment even more special, with Tifosi lining the track and adding to the buzz.
Talking about the new regulations, Leclerc called this “one of the biggest changes in F1 history.” He explained, “We pretty much have to relearn all our routines, get a deeper grip on the systems, and figure out how to get the best out of it. It changes a lot for us as drivers—the way we drive, how we manage races. It’s a huge challenge, but honestly, that’s what makes it exciting. With all the work that’s gone on, I just wanted to finally get behind the wheel and feel it for myself. So yeah, it was a big moment.”
Leclerc, just like Hamilton, can’t wait for the season to start. “Today, I couldn’t really go flat-out, even though I wanted to. Once you drop that visor, all you want to do is push! But today wasn’t the day for that. In Barcelona, we’ll finally get to push the car and really find the limit—and that’s what matters for us drivers, being right on the edge from the very first qualifying. I can’t wait.”
FERNANDO ALONSO CONFIRMS ZERO PERFORMANCE UPGRADES FOR ASTON MARTIN BEFORE SUMMER BREAK
Fernando Alonso warns fans of zero performance upgrades for Aston Martin until autumn as cockpit vibrations ruin race pace.
Fernando Alonso doesn’t see things getting any better for Aston Martin until the back half of the season. The start of their 2026 F1 run has been downright rough.
Their fresh partnership with Honda just isn’t clicking. Both drivers can’t get out of Q1 in qualifying, and points? Forget it. After four rounds, Aston Martin and Cadillac are stuck at the bottom of the standings with zero points.
It’s not just a lack of speed, either. Alonso and Lance Stroll have been fighting nasty car vibrations all year, so bad that team boss Adrian Newey said after Australia, both drivers were worried about permanent nerve damage in their hands and feet.
Miami didn’t offer any relief. Alonso and Stroll both finished a lap down, 15th and 17th. At 44, Alonso accepts this might be the new normal for a while.
When someone asked if Canada might bring some improvement, Alonso shut it down quickly. "No. Maybe we’ll get a little better on drivability, but not on performance," he said. "We just have to stick together. It’s going to be a tough race.”
He knows these weekends will get repetitive. "We have to face the media every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday," he said, and when a journalist apologised, Alonso just shrugged it off: "You’re just doing your job. We drive fast, but the message is the same every week."
Aston Martin doesn’t have upgrades coming until after summer break. Alonso expects Canada and Austria to look just like Miami, and keeping everyone’s frustration in check is the new challenge. Still, he figures the team is staying calm and focused on having a stronger finish to the season.
Looking further ahead, Alonso said last month he’s open to sticking around F1 after his current contract ends. The two-time world champion, who took his titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006, will be close to 450 grands prix by the end of this season.
GEORGE RUSSELL ADMITS ANTONELLI IS "EXCEPTIONALLY QUICK" BUT REFUSES TO CONCEDE TITLE
Kimi Antonelli secured his 3rd straight F1 win in Miami, leaving George Russell 43 seconds behind and 20 points down in the title race. (130 chars)
George Russell isn’t flinching. He’s not ready to let go of the story, even as Kimi Antonelli keeps grabbing headlines. Antonelli’s been tearing it up this season – three straight wins, all from pole – and it’s got people talking. Miami was rough for Russell; he finished fourth, over 43 seconds behind Antonelli. That gap isn’t just big; it’s glaring, and it’s putting some real heat on their rivalry at Mercedes.
Russell isn’t pretending things are fine, but he’s not throwing in the towel either. He gets what Antonelli’s doing and gives props where they’re deserved. “He’s a fantastic driver, and he’s been fast since day one,” Russell said. “You don’t win all those championships as a kid if you’re not quick.” He means it, but he’s also drawing a boundary. Russell still believes in himself, and he’s not giving up on the championship.
“I’ve still got confidence in myself, and I haven’t forgotten how to drive,” he said with a little smile. “It’s just a tricky patch, but we’re only four races in; there’s a lot more to come. We’ll sort things out over the next few weeks.”
That “tricky patch” doesn’t just mean some tough luck; it includes a 20-point deficit and a teammate who won’t stop rewriting history. Antonelli’s winning streak has changed the vibe at Mercedes, at least for now.
Russell knows all about momentum and how it doesn’t always stick around. “He’s got momentum right now; he’s flying,” Russell admitted. “But I’ve won championships myself, and I know momentum swings back and forth all year.” He actually doesn’t seem bothered by the points gap. “Honestly, I’m not even thinking about it,” he said.
It’s a calm answer from a guy who’s been here before, leaning on experience while Antonelli rides his hot streak. Russell keeps saying 'big picture, patience, not panic'.
“I just want to get back on top of the podium,” he said. “I had the pace for the first three races, but this weekend I was nowhere close. It could have gone very differently these last few weeks, and this weekend could’ve just been a blip. But some races in Japan and China didn’t go my way. That’s how F1 goes sometimes.”
Still, confidence doesn’t erase a 20-point gap, not if Antonelli keeps cruising. If Antonelli keeps piling up wins, Russell’s going to have to fight more than just the stopwatch. Losing to your teammate over and over starts to mess with your head. Russell began the season as the guy to beat, but the longer this keeps up, the tougher it gets to grab hold of the story again.
He’s holding firm, for now. But F1 doesn’t wait for anyone. What does Russell call “just a tricky run”? Well, if momentum doesn’t swing his way soon, it could become a whole lot more than that.
