After a nightmarish 2025 season for the Scuderia Ferrari and for Lewis Hamilton, Many wondered whether the marriage between the seven-time world champion and the legendary Italian team would really bear fruit. Results didn't live up to expectations, tensions were sometimes perceptible, and doubts began to creep in. But at the dawn of the 2026 season, the tone has changed radically.
A reconstruction far from the spotlight
It all began with days of testing in Barcelona, in a studious, almost silent atmosphere. Then came the crucial two weeks in Bahrain, the traditional venue for winter testing. There, far from the hustle and bustle of the media, Ferrari worked in the shadows to turn the page on a year 2025 to forget.
For Hamilton, these tests were much more than just timed laps. They were an opportunity to reconnect with the very essence of his profession. On Instagram, two weeks before the first Grand Prix of 2026, the Briton delivered a strong, almost introspective message: «Testing is over. It's inspiring to see a team put everything into building a car. That's the most fascinating part of this job for me.»
Behind these words, one can sense his admiration for the work accomplished at Maranello. A Formula 1 car,« he reminds us, »is built from a blank sheet of paper, designed, redesigned and optimized relentlessly. Then, at the end of the process, only a chosen few have the privilege of pushing it to its limits. "The feeling never gets old," he confides. As for the pleasure of driving, it remains intact.
«I'm ready to go again and full of energy».»
The most striking part of his message, however, concerns neither aerodynamics nor pure performance. It's personal. «I'm ready to go again and full of energy. I'm not going anywhere, so stay with me. For a moment, I forgot who I was...»
Rarely has Hamilton been so transparent. To admit that for a moment he «forgot who he was» is to admit that 2025 shook him to the core. The criticism, the disappointing results and the immense expectations surrounding his arrival at Ferrari weighed heavily. But his tone changes immediately: «I know what needs to be done. It's going to be a hell of a season.» The message is clear. He's no longer talking about adaptation or transition. He's talking about revenge.
Ferrari and Hamilton, the year of the rebound?
The 2026 season promises to be a turning point. After the broken promises of 2025, Ferrari has no room for error. The work done over the winter will have to translate into performance from the very first races.
Hamilton, for his part, seems to have rediscovered the spark that has been his strength for over a decade in Formula 1: «I love this job and I love working with my team and racing for the fans,» he writes. Behind the declaration, one senses the desire to prove, again and again. At 41, the Briton clearly has no intention of giving up. «I'm not going anywhere. The message is as much for his fans as for his detractors. He's still here. And he has every intention of reminding them of that on the track.
If 2025 was the year of doubt, 2026 could be the year of rebirth. And if his own words are to be believed, Lewis Hamilton isn't coming back simply to take part. He's back to fight. To win. And to write, perhaps, a new chapter in the history of Ferrari.
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