Lewis Hamilton echoed teammate Charles Leclerc’s positive impressions after Ferrari completed the SF-26’s first full pre-season shakedown at Barcelona on Tuesday. Leclerc ran in the morning in dry conditions, while Hamilton tackled the afternoon on a wet track, completing around 120 laps despite rain and a red flag.

Hamilton described the day as “very challenging” but productive, praising the team for reaching this stage without major issues. He highlighted the importance of tyre management, data collection, and incremental improvements, calling it a solid first outing under significant regulation changes.

Looking ahead, Hamilton said he is eager to drive the SF-26 in dry conditions to better understand the car’s balance, power deployment, and battery management. While extensive simulator work has prepared the team, he stressed that on-track sessions remain key to optimising performance.

Speaking to the media following a day of testing, Hamilton offered his assessment of Ferrari’s preparations:

“We got a lot of information on the car today – we definitely need to keep it up, [there’s] lots and lots to do, but a good first day.”

“Figuring out how to get the tyres working was really productive – I think we got 120 laps or something like that. Given it’s in the wet conditions and we had a red flag, I think that’s pretty solid, so I’m really proud of everyone back at the factory for getting the car to this point.”

“Well, I’m hoping to experience the car in the dry, and I think just understanding balance,” he said. “I’ve not driven it in the dry, so I don’t really have a feeling for it. Obviously we drove it in the wet, which is only the front part.”

“I mean, we’ve done a huge amount of work – everyone’s done a huge amount of work on the simulator, so it’s not like it’s 100 percent brand-new for us. But we still have to go through our sessions and through the data to try and optimise it.”

“Then just understanding the deployment. I think deployment’s going to be crucial, and understanding that, how to utilise the power, the battery throughout the lap, and recharging, all that kind of stuff.”