Lewis Hamilton has declared that he feels "pumped up" as the 2026 Formula 1 season prepares to get back under way, with Ferrari eager to narrow the gap to the championship‑leading Mercedes squad. After a challenging 2025 campaign, Ferrari entered the new regulatory era on a relatively positive note before the sport’s mandatory April hiatus, securing a podium with Hamilton in the opening race and two more 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 explained his mindset: "Everyone has had a chance to review what happened in the first three rounds.
We’ve all spent a lot of time fine‑tuning the car, and I’m just excited to get another go at it." His words capture the blend of reflection and anticipation that many teams are feeling as they head back to the track. Ferrari currently sit second in the Constructors' Championship, trailing Mercedes, while their drivers line up in third and fourth places behind the Silver Arrows' Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. The Scuderia, along with most of the grid, plans to introduce a substantial aerodynamic and mechanical upgrade when racing resumes in Miami on Friday.
In addition, Ferrari hopes to be among the handful of teams granted access to engine upgrades during the first ADUO (Additional Development and Upgrade Opportunities) window that the new regulations allow. 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 any engine upgrades, he was candid: "It’s a tall order.
I’m incredibly grateful for the hard work the factory crew has put in during the break. Every week I’ve been back at the base seeing the effort that goes into building and refining these components. The quality of their work is outstanding, and I can’t thank them enough." He went on to detail the magnitude of the challenge: "There’s a clear power gap between us and Mercedes, and probably the Ford unit as well.
To bridge that gap we’d have to double the development pace of our rivals. If another team brings a one‑step improvement, we need to deliver two; if they bring two steps, we need three or four. That’s a massive undertaking, and it means we have to keep pushing relentlessly to eventually close the engine deficit." The British driver’s comments came after a mixed start to the season. He finished a strong fourth place behind Leclerc in Australia, then celebrated Ferrari’s long‑awaited podium in China, ending a 26‑race drought for the team.
However, the Japanese Grand Prix proved tougher, with Hamilton only managing sixth place at Suzuka. Post‑race analysis revealed that the car was losing roughly eight to nine tenths of a second per lap on the straights due to a combination of factors, not a single engine fault. "We dug deep and found that several systems were interacting to sap power on the straights," Hamilton explained. "We’ve been working with the simulator and the factory every week, training hard, and I feel fresh for the weekend." Looking ahead, the Miami weekend will feature a full sprint format.
The schedule includes F2 practice on Friday morning, followed by the first F1 practice session, qualifying, and sprint qualifying later in the day. Saturday will host the F2 sprint, the F1 sprint race, and the main qualifying session for the Grand Prix. Sunday culminates with the F2 feature race, the Miami Grand Prix itself, and post‑race analysis shows on Sky Sports.
Fans can stream every session via the NOW platform, with no contract required and the option to cancel at any time. The ADUO window, a new element of the 2026 rulebook, allows teams to apply for additional power‑unit development after the season’s midpoint. While the exact criteria remain confidential, the FIA has indicated that only a limited number of teams will receive approval, based on competitive balance and technical merit.
Ferrari’s hope is that securing an ADUO upgrade will give them a vital boost to challenge Mercedes and Red Bull on the power front. Hamilton’s enthusiasm reflects a broader sentiment across the paddock: after a quiet summer break, teams are eager to test their upgrades, gather data, and refine strategies. The Miami circuit, with its mix of high‑speed straights and tight corners, offers an ideal laboratory for evaluating aerodynamic changes and power‑unit performance.
For Hamilton, the race represents a second chance to translate the hard work of the engineering department into on‑track results. In summary, Lewis Hamilton’s message is clear: the Ferrari driver is motivated, the team is working tirelessly, and the upcoming Miami weekend will be a critical test of both the car’s new parts and the crew’s ability to close the power gap. Whether Ferrari can narrow the deficit to Mercedes and Red Bull remains to be seen, but the combination of upgraded hardware, relentless development, and Hamilton’s renewed vigor sets the stage for an exciting start to the second half of the 2026 Formula 1 season.