Lewis Hamilton took to the Bahrain circuit for the second pre-season test with renewed enthusiasm, emphasizing that Ferrari’s new SF-26 car bears his “DNA.” The seven-time world champion topped the charts by being seventh-fastest and completed 44 laps. His teammate Charles Leclerc was quicker at an average speed of just under 0.6 seconds.
After a tough debut season last year with Ferrari, Hamilton felt rejuvenated and in sync with the team’s new car. “Last year we were locked into a car that ultimately I inherited,” he explained. “This is a car that I’ve been able to be a part of developing on the simulator for the last 10 months; thus, my DNA is now within it.”
In the previous season, Hamilton experienced significant setbacks with just one podium finish and an overall poor performance. This year, however, he has set his sights on a positive outlook. “I really felt like I spent a lot of time rebuilding over this winter, refocusing, really getting my body and mind to a much better place,” the 41-year-old veteran stated.
“I generally feel, personally, in the best place that I’ve been in a long, long time.” His newfound confidence is reflected in his expectations for the new season: “And then the car, we’ve started off quite well so far. It’s an exciting time with this new generation of cars.”
This year’s pre-season tests are crucial as teams collect valuable data on reliability and performance before the opening race in Melbourne. The changes implemented following last year’s regulatory overhaul will be under scrutiny for their effects on both chassis design and engine performance.
However, it is clear that McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari stand out due to their strong performance at the end of the previous season. This disparity between older teams like Williams or Haas and these top-tier competitors underscores just how pivotal these tests are in determining which cars will dominate the upcoming competition.
As Hamilton gears up for what promises to be a challenging yet exciting new chapter, his team’s commitment to improving the SF-26 could soon pay off in terms of victory.