During a print media session ahead of the 2026 F1 Chinese GP, 105-time race winner Lewis Hamilton shared his thoughts on Ferrari’s performance to date, Mercedes’ advantage, and the return of their new rear wing.
Ferrari faced many issues at the Shanghai International Circuit last year, and finally left China with a double disqualification for technical infringements. This time around, the Italian team arrives with a better outlook. Charles Leclerc gave the team its first podium of the season last Sunday in round 1, finishing third at Albert Park. Lewis Hamilton was right behind in P4, gathering a total of 27 points for Ferrari.
Even though pace-wise they were a step away from championship leaders Mercedes, Ferrari seem to sit comfortably as the second-best team.
Lewis Hamilton feels happier with 2026 Ferrari car in comparison to last year
When asked about how he seemed happier with the new car and whether it was due to the end of the ground effect era and a change of philosophy from the team, Hamilton answered:
“Well, one, I think it’s just that I’m in a happy place in my life.
“Two, I think the cars are more enjoyable to drive than the ground effect ones. However, I feel that if it was another year with ground effect, it would have been a car that I would have been a part of help develop. Probably would have been happier in this year’s than I was in last year’s.
“But yeah, no more bouncing, which is great. So it’s a combination of those things.”
“It’s just different”: Lewis Hamilton on the new cars for the F1 2026 season
During the media session, Lewis Hamilton was also asked if he found anything “weird” when driving the new car, for example lifting and coasting on a flying lap in qualifying.
“I mean, it’s just different. Lift and coast has been something that we’ve done in the past, but most of the time it’s done to save fuel or save tyres. But now it’s to maximise energy through the lap, so when it comes to track to track it’s a little bit different.
“So it’s not necessarily weird, it’s just on a qualifying lap, you just want to [be fully] powered all the way to the braking zones.”
Hamilton on Mercedes’ lead ahead of F1 2026 Chinese GP
After a powerful performance from Mercedes throughout the whole weekend at the F1 2026 Australia GP, George Russell, who scored his first win of the season, finished over 15 seconds ahead of both Ferraris and the rest of the grid, except for his teammate, Kimi Antonelli, who was only 3 seconds behind.
When asked about whether Mercedes’ advantage would translate to different tracks ahead of the F1 2026 Chinese GP, Hamilton reflected:
“I mean, it seems mostly on straights, so I think it would be, at the moment, everywhere on the straights. It seems more so when they open up the SLM, that’s when they take a huge step. In that phase is an area we’re trying to understand, they seem to have a little bit more deployment.
“Yeah, so less like derating at the end of the straights. So, yeah, so we’ve just got to work on trying to see how we recap on energy.”
Hamilton’s take on the new rear wing returning for FP1 at the F1 2026 Chinese GP
During the second pre-season test in Bahrain, Scuderia Ferrari introduced a brand new rear wing that, instead of switching into a flat position, it completely flips upside down. Even though there are no certainties regarding its true impact, it creates a bigger gap for air to travel through. The team confirmed the wing would be used once again during FP1 at the F1 2026 Chinese GP.
Hamilton was asked about whether the change brought any advantages or if they were still learning about it. The seven-time World Champion also took time to praise his squad for fast-tracking the update.
“We did a full day or so on the wing, I think we did. But we got all the running we needed.
“And I’m so grateful for the team to work, because it was actually supposed to be later down the line, and they worked really hard to develop it and get it here.
“So that for me is just great to see that the team are fighting, the team are pushing, and chasing and really working overtime at the factory to be able to bring upgrades. That’s the name of the game.
“Last year I didn’t get to see the team’s full potential in that mode.”
