Lewis Hamilton Confident 2026 F1 Season Will Rebuild Momentum Ahead Of Australian Grand Prix

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Lewis Hamilton heads into the 2026 Formula One season speaking confidently about a fresh mindset and a stronger Ferrari package, insisting "you won't see that person again" after a tough 2025. The seven-time world champion now approaches the Australian Grand Prix believing both preparation and attitude have shifted significantly.

Hamilton’s first year with Ferrari in 2025 brought rare frustration, as the driver completed a full season without a single podium for the first time. Hamilton’s best race result was fourth place, achieved at four different Grands Prix, before finishing eighth in the final round in Abu Dhabi.

Ferrari now hope that the revised 2026 regulations will allow a more competitive car for both Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. The team expect the new technical framework to reset some of the existing order, giving Hamilton a better platform to fight at the front during Hamilton’s 20th Formula One campaign.

Speaking before the race weekend in Melbourne, Hamilton stressed total belief in both personal preparation and Ferrari’s work. "I believe in myself that I've put more work in than anyone around me. And I believe in myself," Hamilton said. "Rediscovering myself was really a big part of it as well."

Hamilton described a mental reset that followed the disappointment of 2025 and referenced comments made away from the circuit. "As I said in one of my [Instagram] posts, I kind of lost sight for a second of who I was. And that person's gone. You won't see that person again."

The Ferrari driver explained how familiarity with the team has changed the working atmosphere compared with 2025. "It's massively different to the first year. And it's a much nicer feeling coming, having spent a year with the team, understanding the culture, understanding ways, finding ways of working together."

Hamilton stated that the relationship inside Ferrari is now far stronger heading into 2026. "We're in a good place now together as a team. And I feel very gelled with the team today. I'm much happier." Hamilton also highlighted the importance of turning difficult experiences into improved performance on track.

The 39-year-old also spoke about the challenge presented by the modified rulebook, while stressing readiness within Ferrari. "We're leaving behind the bad and taking the head, moving forward with the good. We're sharp, prepared and we know what we need to do. But we also know there are massive challenges for all of us with the new rules and regulations."

Hamilton’s historic record in Melbourne offers another source of confidence before the 2026 Australian Grand Prix. Hamilton has taken eight pole positions at Albert Park, more than at any venue except Hungary, where Hamilton has nine. However, Hamilton has started from pole only once in the last 93 races, at Hungary in 2023, and has not claimed pole in Australia since 2019.

Despite those statistics and a podium-free 2025 season, Hamilton moves into the 2026 Formula One campaign convinced that both mindset and machinery have progressed. Ferrari expect the updated regulations to close gaps, and Hamilton believes the stronger bond with the team can help convert that opportunity into improved results.