Lewis Hamilton has declared that he feels "fired up" as the 2026 Formula 1 campaign prepares to restart, with Ferrari eager to narrow the gap to championship‑leading 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 next two events. Now, five weeks later and on the eve of the Miami Grand Prix, Hamilton reflected on the break and the work that has taken place.
He told reporters, "Everyone’s had a chance to go over what happened in the first three races. Everyone’s had a more intense time to work on refining the car. I just feel fired up for the second stab at it." Ferrari currently 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, Ferrari included, are slated to introduce a major aerodynamic and mechanical upgrade when the action resumes in Miami on Friday. In addition, the Scuderia hopes to be among the few outfits granted engine‑development allowances during the season’s first ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities) window, a crucial chance to chase the power deficit. Hamilton believes the power shortfall is not limited to Mercedes; the new Red Bull‑Ford unit may also be out‑producing Ferrari. When asked whether the team could close the gap without an engine upgrade, he replied, "I think it’s a tall order.
Firstly, I’m really grateful for all the hard work. I’ve been back at the factory every week during this break and seeing how hard the team has been working on bringing an upgrade. It’s an immense amount of work that goes into building these components, and the quality is outstanding.
I’m incredibly grateful to everyone back at the factory." He continued, "I think there is a gap between us power‑wise, compared to the Mercedes and probably the Ford as well. To close that gap we have to double the development each time others do, which is a really tall order.
You have to assume everyone is developing at a similar rate because it’s new rules, so if a team brings a tenth, we need to bring two. If they bring two, we need to bring three or four.
That’s a lot. I think we just have to keep pushing to eventually close the gap on the engine side." Hamilton’s recent race results illustrate the mixed fortunes the team has experienced.
After a solid fourth place behind Leclerc in Australia and the long‑awaited breakthrough of Ferrari’s first podium of the year in China, his Japanese Grand Prix weekend proved more difficult, ending only sixth. In the days following Suzuka, Hamilton analysed telemetry and concluded that his car was losing roughly eight to nine tenths of a second on the straights due to a combination of factors, not a single engine flaw.
"We did a deep dive and it wasn’t the engine alone, but the whole system – several things coming together to lose us eight to nine tenths on straight‑line power," he explained. "We’ve been working on the simulator and at the factory every week, training heavily, and I feel very fresh for the weekend." 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 programmes such as Ted’s Sprint Notebook and Qualifying Notebook, all designed to give fans a comprehensive view of the action. The event will be streamed live on Sky Sports F1 and the NOW platform, with no long‑term contract required.
Beyond the immediate race weekend, Hamilton’s comments highlight the broader challenges facing Ferrari in the 2026 era. The new technical regulations have reset the competitive landscape, forcing every team to develop at a rapid pace.
Ferrari’s strategy now hinges on two pillars: delivering a potent aerodynamic upgrade that can extract more downforce without compromising drag, and securing an engine development package through the ADUO window that can at least narrow the horsepower gap with Mercedes and Red Bull‑Ford. Hamilton’s optimism suggests the team’s morale is high, but he also acknowledges the enormity of the task ahead. In summary, Lewis Hamilton’s enthusiasm for the season’s restart is matched by a realistic appraisal of the work still required. Ferrari’s recent podiums show promise, yet the power deficit remains a critical obstacle.
With a major car upgrade slated for Miami and the potential for engine development later in the year, the Scuderia aims to transform its current second‑place standing into a genuine championship challenge. Fans can follow the unfolding drama live on Sky Sports, with additional coverage and analysis available via Sky’s WhatsApp channel and the NOW streaming service.
The Miami Grand Prix promises to be a pivotal moment in the 2026 campaign, offering both a test of Ferrari’s new package and a glimpse of how the battle for the title will shape up in the months to come.