has shared particulars on his affect on Ferrari’s 2026 Method 1 challenger.
The 41-year-old driver joined the Maranello outfit in 2025 after a 12-year stint with , which resulted in six of his seven drivers’ championship titles.
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Whereas the Briton struggled to adapt to the brand new group final 12 months, he has come again robust in 2026 and claimed his first podium end with on the Chinese language Grand Prix.
Throughout an interview with forward of the Japanese Grand Prix, Hamilton detailed his involvement with the group’s 2026 F1 automotive.
“It actually has,” Hamilton mentioned when requested about his optimistic begin to the season.
“It began out as a extremely good 12 months, and the power inside the group and simply how we’re all working collectively, it has been actually, actually optimistic.
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“I am having fun with driving the brand new automotive, and it is a automotive that I bought to play a heavy position in serving to develop final 12 months by way of the simulator operating. So, it is good to see a number of the issues that I requested for come by way of within the design of the automotive and get to really feel them and really feel them positively.”
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
He added about his changes to the Fred Vasseur-led group: “It is an enormous distinction, and it is an enormous endeavor. I believe folks, once they watch, they won’t perceive how large it’s while you transfer to a brand new group.
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“You’ll be able to arrive and soar right into a cockpit, however studying the brand new instruments, significantly a unique tradition and a unique method that individuals wish to work and adopting that into the best way you wish to work. After which for those who have a look at final 12 months, for instance, it was the top of an period of automobiles, and we did not develop by way of the 12 months.
“So we had been form of caught with what we had which in the end wasn’t ok for us to compete for wins, however we took so many learnings by way of that final 12 months as a group and we’re making use of these to this 12 months and it is simply began off so a lot better.”
Images from Japanese GP – SundayAndrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Simon Galloway / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lars Baron / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Lars Baron / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
An Oracle Crimson Bull Racing fan.
An Oracle Crimson Bull Racing fan.
Lars Baron / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Automotive of Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Automotive of Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Marcel van Dorst / EYE4images / NurPhoto through Getty Pictures
Brie Larson.
Brie Larson.
Simon Galloway / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lars Baron / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Staff
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Staff
Lars Baron / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
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Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Alexander Albon, Williams
Franco Colapinto, Alpine, Alexander Albon, Williams
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Ferrari followers.
Ferrari followers.
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures through Getty Pictures
Oscar Piastri’s automotive, McLaren
Oscar Piastri’s automotive, McLaren
Marcel van Dorst / EYE4images / NurPhoto through Getty Pictures
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
Andy Hone/ LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures through Getty Pictures
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Staff
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Staff
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures through Getty Pictures
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Charlie Day and Jack Black go to the Mercedes AMG F1 Staff storage.
Charlie Day and Jack Black go to the Mercedes AMG F1 Staff storage.
Sam Bloxham / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Staff, George Russell, Mercedes
Nico Hülkenberg, Audi F1 Staff, George Russell, Mercedes
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Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures through Getty Pictures
Benny Safdie
Benny Safdie
Mark Sutton / Method 1 through Getty Pictures
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Lars Baron / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Carlos Sainz, Williams, Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
Carlos Sainz, Williams, Sergio Perez, Cadillac Racing
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Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Staff
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Staff
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Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Alastair Staley / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Kym Illman / Getty Pictures
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Staff
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Staff
Simon Galloway / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Zak Brown, McLaren
Zak Brown, McLaren
Kym Illman / Getty Pictures
Toto Wolff, Mercedes
Toto Wolff, Mercedes
Sam Bloxham / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari
Frederic Vasseur, Ferrari
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP through Getty Pictures
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Mark Thompson / Getty Pictures
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, George Russell, Mercedes
Mark Thompson / Getty Pictures
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Clive Rose / Method 1 through Getty Pictures
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Staff, Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing, Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Staff, Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Pictures
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
Sam Bloxham / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing, Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing, Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Mark Thompson / Getty Pictures
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Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
Clive Mason / Getty Pictures
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing, Isack Hadjar, Crimson Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing, Isack Hadjar, Crimson Bull Racing
Clive Mason / Getty Pictures
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing, Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Max Verstappen, Crimson Bull Racing, Pierre Gasly, Alpine, Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Andy Hone/ LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Arvid Lindblad, Racing Bulls
Peter Fox / Getty Pictures
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Staff
Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Staff
Simon Galloway / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Alastair Staley / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
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Isack Hadjar, Crimson Bull Racing
Isack Hadjar, Crimson Bull Racing
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Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Staff automotive after his crash
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Staff automotive after his crash
Kym Illman / Getty Pictures
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Alastair Staley / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Sam Bloxham / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Isack Hadjar, Crimson Bull Racing
Isack Hadjar, Crimson Bull Racing
Clive Mason / Getty Pictures
Isack Hadjar, Crimson Bull Racing, Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Staff
Isack Hadjar, Crimson Bull Racing, Gabriel Bortoleto, Audi F1 Staff
Mark Thompson / Getty Pictures
Oscar Piastri, McLaren Staff
Oscar Piastri, McLaren Staff
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures through Getty Pictures
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Clive Mason / Getty Pictures
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Clive Rose / Method 1 through Getty Pictures
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Clive Rose / Method 1 through Getty Pictures
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andy Hone/ LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Toto Wolff, Mercedes
Toto Wolff, Mercedes
Kym Illman / Getty Pictures
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Mark Thompson / Getty Pictures
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Sam Bloxham / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Sam Bagnall / Sutton Pictures through Getty Pictures
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Mark Sutton / Method 1 through Getty Pictures
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Andy Hone/ LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andy Hone/ LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Sam Bloxham / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Simon Galloway / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
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