Lewis Hamilton: 2026 “Biggest Challenge” of F1 Career

Lewis Hamilton expects “biggest challenge” of career with Ferrari’s 2026 regulations

Lewis Hamilton is already looking ahead to what he calls the “biggest regulation change” of his career as Ferrari unveiled their SF-26 livery on Friday.

The seven-time world champion is eager to bounce back after a disappointing 2025 season with the Italian team, where he became the first Ferrari newcomer to complete a debut year without a single podium finish.

Hamilton ended his first Ferrari season in 6th place, a stark contrast to teammate Charles Leclerc who claimed seven podiums and finished with 86 more points.

The upcoming 2026 rules shake-up represents a fresh start for Hamilton, who never quite got to grips with the ground effect cars introduced in 2022.

He’ll also have a new race engineer next season, with Riccardo Adami being moved away from the race team – possibly giving Hamilton more influence at Ferrari headquarters.

“When a new era begins, everything revolves around development, growth as a team, and moving forward in the same direction,” Hamilton said in Ferrari’s press release.

“As a driver, being involved from the very start in the development of such a different car has been a particularly fascinating challenge.”

## Hamilton sees drivers taking “central role” in 2026

The 2026 regulations will bring smaller, narrower cars and a dramatic shift in power units, with a 50:50 split between electrical power and internal combustion engines.

Hamilton believes drivers will be crucial to making these complex new systems work effectively.

“It will be an extremely important year from a technical perspective, with the driver playing a central role in energy management, understanding the new systems and contributing to the car’s development,” he explained.

“It’s a challenge we face together as a team, supported by the extraordinary passion of Ferrari’s fans, which means so much to all of us.”

## Leclerc ready for “fascinating” adaptation

Leclerc, who finished 5th in the 2025 championship with 242 points, also recognizes the massive technical hurdles ahead but seems confident in Ferrari’s experience.

“The 2026 regulations demand an even higher level of preparation, particularly for us drivers,” said the Monegasque. “There are many new systems to understand and optimize.”

He highlighted that Ferrari has already navigated major rule changes together during his time with the team.

Energy management will be one of the trickiest aspects, according to Leclerc.

“It’s a fascinating challenge which will require us drivers to adapt quickly, relying more on instinct to begin with, and then increasingly on precise data,” he said.

Leclerc added that fan support will be vital throughout this transition: “The support of the fans will be especially important this season. It’s what makes Ferrari so unique and pushes us to give our very best.”