Lewis Hamilton prepares for new Formula One season with renewed confidence
Lewis Hamilton has expressed renewed confidence as he prepares for the forthcoming Formula One campaign, describing his current mental state as the strongest it has been in considerable time, reports BritPanorama.
The British driver’s optimism follows a challenging inaugural season with Scuderia Ferrari, during which he failed to reach the podium and finished sixth in the championship standings. His final races were particularly troublesome, with Hamilton unable to secure a qualifying position better than 13th across the last four Grands Prix of the year.
Despite these setbacks, Hamilton maintains that he has overcome last season’s difficulties and has developed a positive mindset. Notably, significant changes to Formula One’s technical regulations have provided fresh grounds for optimism at Maranello, with modifications introduced to engines, chassis, fuel, and tyres for the new season. The Italian team demonstrated encouraging form during the opening pre-season test in Bahrain, completing substantial mileage that has buoyed hopes within the garage.
These promising early signs have contributed to Hamilton’s excitement about his prospects for the upcoming campaign. The combination of a reset in regulations and Ferrari’s strong testing performance appears to have given the 40-year-old renewed belief that he can challenge for victories once again after his winless 2025 season.
Hamilton stated: “I’ve left everything, all of last year, behind me. I really felt that I spent a lot of time rebuilding over this winter, refocusing, really getting my body and my mind to a much better place. In general, just making sure that I’m able to arrive feeling better. And I would say I generally feel personally in the best place that I’ve been in a long, long time.”
He added that it is an exciting time with this new generation of car, remarking, “This is a car that I’ve been able to be a part of developing on the simulator for the last 10 months. So, a bit of my DNA is within it. I’m more connected to this one for sure.”
Ferrari, which has not won the drivers’ championship since Kimi Raikkonen’s success in 2007, endured a disappointing 2025 season after entering it with hopes of contending for both championships but landing as the fourth-best team. Hamilton noted that lessons have been learned and expressed readiness for the project to take time to bear fruit.
“My belief in the team is still absolutely the same. I understand the faith in this team and what they’re capable of. That’s why I joined the team. I knew it wasn’t going to be an overnight thing where we’d have success immediately,” said Hamilton.
There’s an air of anticipation surrounding the new season, not just for Hamilton and Ferrari, but for fans eager to witness how the reshaped grid will compete. As always in Formula One, the path to victory is fraught with challenges, but Hamilton’s blend of experience and determination could well be the key ingredient in the quest for success.
