Red Redemption: Is the 2026 Ferrari Finally the Car Lewis Deserves?

The 2026 F1 season marks Lewis Hamilton’s second year with Ferrari and his 20th season overall. Given how disappointing the Englishman found the 2025 campaign, he will be looking to regain his lost confidence and rediscover that missing spark.

The shakedown in Barcelona at the end of January indicated that Ferrari finally had a car capable of challenging the front-runners—or at least keeping pace with them. By the time testing concluded in Bahrain, both drivers were visibly happy with the progress of the 2026 challenger. Lewis topped the timesheets during the shakedown and remained near the top in Bahrain. For many, this was the sign he had been looking for.

Heading into the season opener in Australia, anticipation was sky-high. Free practice was smooth sailing, and it was clear that Lewis felt comfortable. Throughout qualifying, his confidence grew with every lap. Despite qualifying P7, the Ferrari showed excellent performance off the line, leaving fans hopeful he could make up ground in the opening laps.

By the checkered flag, Mercedes and Ferrari locked out the top four positions, with Hamilton securing P4. While this matched his best finish in "Scarlet Red," he appeared much happier in post-race interviews. His performance restored a great sense of faith for Team LH and F1 fans alike for the season ahead.

Moving into Round 2 in China, Ferrari was eager to right the wrongs of the previous year, where both cars were disqualified in the Grand Prix, overshadowing a successful Sprint. As China was a Sprint weekend, the team had only one practice session to find their setup. In Free Practice, the Reds trailed Mercedes and McLaren. However, in Sprint Qualifying, the British driver achieved P4. With his trademark lightning start, fans expected a jump to the front by the first corner. That is exactly what happened; though the pace of the Mercedes and his teammate eventually told, Lewis finished the Sprint in P3. While he won the Sprint at this venue last season, he showed no disappointment, smiling with the confidence of a man who knew he could contend in the main race.

Starting the Grand Prix brilliantly, Lewis surged into P1 by the first corner and led the opening laps. Even though the lead didn’t last as long as he would have liked, it clearly gave him the boost needed to secure an important podium.

With the opening two races going so well, fans are eager to see where these new regulations will take him. The question on everyone’s lips remains: when will he get that elusive first win in red?