Lewis Hamilton has openly declared that he feels "absolutely pumped" as the 2026 Formula 1 calendar gears up for its next chapter, with Ferrari working hard to narrow the distance to championship frontrunners Mercedes. After a challenging 2025 season, Ferrari entered the new regulatory era on a more optimistic note before the sport’s mandatory April hiatus, securing a podium with Hamilton in the opening race and two further podiums for Charles Leclerc in the first three events.
Now, five weeks later and on the cusp of the Miami Grand Prix weekend, Hamilton reflected on the break and the work that has taken place. "Everyone has had a chance to dissect what happened in those first three rounds," he said. "We’ve all spent an intense period fine‑tuning the car, and I’m just thrilled to get another shot at it." Ferrari sit second in the Constructors' Championship, trailing Mercedes, while their drivers occupy third and fourth places behind the Silver Arrows’ Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. All teams, including the Scuderia, are slated to unveil a major aerodynamic and mechanical upgrade when the cars hit the streets of Miami on Friday.
In addition, Ferrari are hopeful of securing one of the limited engine upgrade slots that will be offered during the season’s inaugural ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities) window, a programme designed to level the playing field under the new technical regulations. Hamilton believes the performance gap is not only a matter of aerodynamics but also of raw power.
He suspects that Ferrari may be down on horsepower not just versus Mercedes but also relative to the newly introduced Red Bull‑Ford power unit. When asked whether the team could close the deficit without an engine upgrade, Hamilton was candid: "It’s a tall order. First, I’m incredibly grateful for the hard work the factory has put in during the break.
I’ve been at the base every week, watching the team develop a new upgrade package. The amount of engineering effort, the precision of the components, and the quality of the build are extraordinary, and I’m deeply appreciative of everyone involved." He continued, "There is definitely a power gap when you compare us to Mercedes and probably to Ford as well. To close that gap, we would need to double the development output of our rivals each time they bring an improvement. If another team introduces a tenth‑of‑a‑second gain, we’d have to deliver two tenths.
If they add two tenths, we’d need three or four. That’s a massive challenge, and we have to keep pushing if we ever hope to catch up on the engine front." The British champion’s recent race results illustrate the mixed fortunes the team has experienced. After a solid fourth‑place finish behind Leclerc in Australia, Ferrari finally broke their long‑standing podium drought in China, with Leclerc claiming a podium on his 26th attempt. Hamilton, however, endured a tougher weekend in Japan, ending the race in sixth place.
Post‑race analysis revealed that his car suffered a loss of roughly eight to nine tenths of a second on the straights, a deficit Hamilton attributed to a combination of factors rather than a single engine fault. "It’s been useful for everyone to step back and scrutinise the first few races," Hamilton said.
"In Suzuka I felt a noticeable power shortfall. A deep dive showed it wasn’t just the engine – it was the whole system, several elements aligning to shave nearly a tenth of a second off our straight‑line speed. We’ve been working with the simulator and the factory every week, putting in massive training sessions, and I feel fresh and ready for the weekend ahead." Looking ahead, the Miami weekend schedule is packed with action. Friday will feature F2 practice, the first Miami GP practice session, and the team bosses’ press conference, followed by sprint qualifying.
Saturday brings the F2 sprint, the Miami sprint race, and the main Grand Prix qualifying session. Sunday concludes with the F2 feature race, the full‑length Miami Grand Prix, and post‑race analysis programmes. All events will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available through the NOW platform, offering a contract‑free, cancel‑anytime option. As the 2026 season resumes, Hamilton’s enthusiasm underscores the competitive spirit that defines Formula 1.
While Ferrari faces a steep development hill to climb, the combination of aerodynamic upgrades, potential engine enhancements, and relentless work at the factory could provide the catalyst needed to challenge Mercedes and Red Bull‑Ford. Fans can anticipate a thrilling Miami weekend, where the Scuderia will aim to turn the momentum from the early podiums into a sustained challenge for the championship lead.