Lewis Hamilton has praised the 2025 generation of Formula 1 cars after his initial running with Ferrari at the Barcelona shakedown, describing them as more enjoyable to drive than their predecessors. The seven-time world champion, who moved to Ferrari from Mercedes for the 2025 season, completed extensive testing of the SF-26 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya this week. Hamilton’s experience across five major regulation changes in his career provides unique insight into how the latest technical ruleset compares to previous eras, particularly after the demanding ground-effect period that defined racing from 2022 to 2024.
Ferrari shakedown delivers positive first impressions
Hamilton set the unofficial fastest time of the Barcelona shakedown with a lap of 1:16.348, contributing to Ferrari’s impressive total of 444 laps alongside team-mate Charles Leclerc. The British driver’s initial assessment of the SF-26 focused on the fundamental character differences between the current cars and those he raced during the ground-effect era. While the new machines exhibit oversteer and unpredictable sliding characteristics, Hamilton emphasised they offer better recovery potential when pushed beyond the limit.
The shakedown programme followed a filming day at Fiorano after Ferrari’s launch, giving Hamilton valuable seat time in his new environment. His positive feedback extended beyond the car’s handling traits to encompass the team’s operational approach and the mentality he has observed since joining the Scuderia.
New regulations create more forgiving handling dynamics
The technical regulations introduced for 2025 represent a significant departure from the ground-effect philosophy that dominated recent seasons. Hamilton explained that whilst the current cars demand constant correction and exhibit snappy behaviour, they allow drivers more margin for error compared to the knife-edge stability characteristics that defined the 2022-2024 period. That previous generation required millimetre-perfect positioning and offered little forgiveness when pushed beyond optimal operating windows.
Hamilton’s description of the new cars as “oversteery and snappy and sliding, but a little bit easier to catch” suggests the regulations have succeeded in creating more dynamic racing machines. The reduction in downforce levels compared to previous years contributes to this character, demanding different driving techniques whilst potentially improving wheel-to-wheel racing prospects. For a driver of Hamilton’s calibre, the opportunity to showcase car control skills rather than simply managing aerodynamic platform stability appears to resonate positively.
Unconventional wet weather testing provides crucial data
Ferrari took the unusual decision to run during wet conditions on Tuesday, with Red Bull the only other team joining them on track once rain arrived. Hamilton actively sought this experience, citing last year’s Australian Grand Prix as motivation. His first wet-weather action in a Ferrari came during the race itself in Melbourne, creating an unnecessarily difficult learning curve that the Barcelona wet running addressed proactively.
The British driver described the winter preparation period as involving “a huge amount of work” on his part, matched by significant efforts from Ferrari’s technical team to implement changes ahead of the shakedown. This preparatory work enabled the team to maximise track time when conditions allowed, accumulating valuable data across varied circumstances. The wet running provided Hamilton with essential familiarity regarding how the SF-26 behaves when grip levels drop, information that could prove decisive during unpredictable race weekends.
Team mentality impresses Hamilton after Mercedes switch
Beyond the technical aspects of the SF-26, Hamilton offered insight into Ferrari’s operational culture and the atmosphere within the team. He emphasised sensing a “winning mentality” in every team member, describing this competitive drive as being present “more than ever” throughout the organisation. These comments suggest the British driver has found the environment he sought when making the bold decision to leave Mercedes after twelve seasons together.
The productive debriefs and collaborative approach Hamilton referenced indicate Ferrari’s technical staff and strategists are operating cohesively as the team seeks to capitalise on having arguably the most successful driver in F1 history. Hamilton’s acknowledgment that “we definitely have work to do to improve, of course, like everybody does” demonstrates realistic assessment rather than complacency, balancing optimism with recognition that development will prove crucial as teams interpret the new regulations differently.
Reliability foundations established during Barcelona running
Hamilton praised Ferrari’s ability to complete the shakedown programme without significant mechanical issues, achieving consistency that allowed maximum learning potential. The accumulation of 444 laps between both drivers provided extensive data for the engineering team to analyse regarding performance characteristics, reliability parameters, and development directions. While Hamilton acknowledged that “small things” required attention and that potential problems could emerge during subsequent testing, the absence of major downtime represented an encouraging foundation.
The contrast between reduced downforce levels and previous years’ specifications formed part of Hamilton’s technical assessment. Understanding how this fundamental aerodynamic difference influences tyre management, energy deployment, and racing strategy will occupy teams throughout pre-season testing and the opening races. Ferrari’s approach of maximising running time during the shakedown rather than chasing headline lap times suggests a methodical development philosophy that prioritises understanding over immediate performance claims.
Championship implications of regulation reset
The 2025 regulation changes create opportunities for teams to reshuffle the competitive order, making Hamilton’s assessment of Ferrari’s early progress particularly significant. His move to Ferrari represents the highest-profile driver transfer in decades, increasing pressure on the team to deliver a championship-contending package. The positive initial feedback regarding both car characteristics and team culture suggests the foundation exists for a successful partnership, though pre-season testing and the opening races will provide definitive answers regarding Ferrari’s competitive position.
Hamilton’s extensive experience evaluating different regulation eras gives his technical opinions considerable weight within the paddock. If the more forgiving nature he describes translates into closer racing and increased overtaking opportunities, the 2025 season could deliver the spectacle that regulations aim to create whilst demanding high-level driver skill to extract maximum performance from unpredictable machinery.
