Lewis Hamilton has made it clear that he is "amped up" for the revival of the 2026 Formula 1 calendar, especially as Ferrari strives to narrow the distance to championship‑leading Mercedes. After a challenging 2025 season, Ferrari entered the new regulatory era on a comparatively upbeat note before the sport’s mandatory April hiatus, securing a podium with Hamilton in the opening round and two further podiums for Charles Leclerc in the first three events of the year. Now, five weeks later and on the eve of the Miami Grand Prix weekend, Hamilton shared his thoughts on the upcoming action.
He said, "Everyone has had a chance to review what happened in the first three races. We’ve all had an intense period to fine‑tune the car, and I’m just feeling fired up for the second stab at it." His enthusiasm reflects both personal motivation and the broader ambition of the Scuderia, which sits second in the Constructors' Championship behind Mercedes, while its drivers occupy third and fourth places in the drivers' standings, trailing the Silver Arrows’ Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. Ferrari, like most teams, plans to roll out a substantial aerodynamic and mechanical upgrade when the cars hit the streets of Miami on Friday.
In addition, the Italian outfit hopes to be among the select squads granted engine development allowances during the first ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities) window of the season. ADUO periods are critical because they permit teams to introduce power‑unit enhancements that can dramatically affect performance under the new regulations.
Hamilton believes the power deficit is not limited to Mercedes; he suspects the new Red Bull‑Ford power unit may also be out‑pacing Ferrari. When asked whether the team could close the gap without an engine upgrade, he admitted, "It’s a tall order.
I’m incredibly grateful for the hard work the factory crew has put in during the break. They’ve been building components at a remarkable pace and with exceptional quality." He went on to explain the magnitude of the challenge: "There’s a clear power gap between us and Mercedes, and probably also the Ford unit. To close that gap we would have to double the development output of our rivals each time they bring an upgrade. If they introduce one improvement, we need two; if they bring two, we need three or four.
That’s a massive undertaking, and we have to keep pushing if we ever want to catch up on the engine side." The British champion’s recent race results illustrate the roller‑coaster nature of the season so far. After finishing a strong fourth place just behind Leclerc in Australia, Hamilton broke Ferrari’s long‑standing podium drought in China, achieving a podium on his 26th attempt with the team. However, the Japanese Grand Prix proved more difficult, with Hamilton 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 per lap on the straights, a deficit he attributed to a combination of factors rather than a single engine flaw.
"It’s been good for everyone to step back and analyse the first few races," Hamilton said. "In Suzuka I felt we were down on power. After a deep dive we discovered it wasn’t just the engine – it was the whole system, several elements aligning to shave eight to nine tenths off our straight‑line speed.
We’ve been working with the simulator and the factory every week, training intensely, and I feel very fresh for the weekend ahead." Looking ahead, the Miami weekend will feature a full sprint format: practice sessions on Friday, a sprint race on Saturday, and the main Grand Prix on Sunday. The schedule includes F2 support races, qualifying sessions, and a series of Sky Sports analysis programmes such as Ted’s Sprint Notebook and Qualifying Notebook, all of which will be streamed live via NOW without a long‑term contract. In summary, Hamilton’s message is one of cautious optimism blended with realism. He acknowledges the substantial work required to bridge the power gap, praises the dedication of the Ferrari engineering team, and expresses genuine excitement for the next chapter of the 2026 season.
As the Miami Grand Prix approaches, all eyes will be on whether Ferrari’s upcoming upgrades and potential ADUO engine improvements can translate into tangible gains on the track, and if Hamilton can convert his renewed vigor into podium finishes that bring the team closer to the championship summit.