Hamilton says 2026 rules ‘huge challenge’ as Ferrari launch new car

Ferrari’s new car, Lewis Hamilton, described the 2026 Formula 1 season as “a huge challenge.”

Working on the new Ferrari vehicle for the sport’s new engine and chassis rules, according to the seven-time champion, who had a challenging debut season with the Italian team.

After failing to win a race in 2025, Ferrari are under pressure to compete this year.

The driver will play a key role in energy management, understanding the new systems, and contributing to the development of the car, according to Hamilton.

A 50-50 split in the power-units between the electrical and internal combustion sides of the hybrid engines has been a key element of F1’s new regulations.

The 41-year-old Briton added, “The 2026 season is a huge challenge for everyone, and it’s probably the biggest regulation change I’ve ever gone through.”

Everything revolves around a new era beginning with a team of professionals who are working together to advance in the same direction.

Charles Leclerc, Hamilton’s teammate, said: “The 2026 regulations demand even greater preparation, especially for us drivers. We have been heavily involved in the project’s development from the beginning because there are many new systems to understand and optimize.

One of the most significant aspects of the project is that “we drivers will have to adapt quickly, relying more on instinct and then increasingly on precise data,” according to the article.

The first pre-season test will be held privately at Spain’s Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya next week, and the new SF-26 car will debut at Ferrari’s Fiorano test track on Friday.

Teams can run on three of the five days without using any independent media, and there is no such thing as a test.

“We dedicated a lot of time to the concept phase to capture as much of the new regulatory and technical context as possible,” said Ferrari technical director Loic Serra.