Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari head into the F1 2026 season with fresh optimism as new technical regulations reset the grid. With more powerful batteries and active aerodynamics, Hamilton looks to bounce back from a podium-free year and challenge Charles Leclerc.
Ferrari Team Principal Fred Vasseur acknowledged that the decision to redirect development resources from the 2025 Formula 1 car to the 2026 project early in the season had a larger psychological effect on the team than expected. The move was made after early competitiveness gaps became clear and involved reducing aerodynamic updates for the 2025 car.
Mercedes says the two-centimetre jump-start that earned Andrea Kimi Antonelli a five-second penalty in Las Vegas was not caused by driver error. Despite the setback, the 19-year-old recovered from 17th to finish third through precise tyre management and a bold early-stop strategy.
Ferrari chairman John Elkann has publicly criticised Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, urging them to speak less and focus more after the team slipped to fourth in the constructors’ standings.
Lewis Hamilton received a reprimand for failing to reduce speed under double yellow flags during sprint qualifying in Sao Paulo. The FIA ruled that while he did not slow sufficiently, the short reaction window justified avoiding a grid penalty.
The FIA faced backlash after several drivers cut through Turns 1–3 on the opening lap of the 2025 Mexican Grand Prix without penalty. George Russell and Fernando Alonso led criticism of the stewards’ consistency, arguing that leniency in first-lap decisions risks undermining fair racing.
Lando Norris delivered a masterclass in control at the 2025 Mexican Grand Prix, leading from start to finish to claim victory and the championship lead. McLaren’s flawless strategy and Norris’s precision left Ferrari and Red Bull battling for scraps in a race that saw Yuki Tsunoda lose out after a slow pit stop.
Lewis Hamilton will start third in Mexico as he aims to deliver Ferrari’s first podium finish in 13 months. Confident in his grid position, the seven-time world champion says he’ll attack “aggressively” against Lando Norris, adding, “I’ve got nothing to lose — but he does.”












