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Is this Ferrari’s year? Hamilton all smiles after Barcelona shakedown
Lewis Hamilton, the F1 legend, showcased a beaming smile after testing the SF-26 at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the first time this week. Taking over from Charles Leclerc during the Spanish shakedown, it marked Hamilton’s first drive in Ferrari’s new F1 car post a successful testing at Fiorano. Despite the closed-door nature of the 2026 testing, select media was present to cover Hamilton’s talks with the media, where he lauded the Ferrari team for adapting to the major regulations overhaul and remaining competitive. Reflecting on challenging weather conditions and the learning curve with the new car, Hamilton remained optimistic, acknowledging the progress made by the team while emphasizing the need for further development. Hamilton expressed satisfaction with the wet testing session and outlined the team’s focus on understanding car balance, the new power unit system, and maximizing deployment efficiency for competitive gains as they progress through the Barcelona schedule.
