Anthony Davidson has been impressed by the way Lewis Hamilton is handling Ferrari’s 2026 F1 car. Hamilton, who took over for Charles Leclerc during the evening session, put in a solid showing as pre-season testing began.
Hamilton didn’t just set the second-fastest time of the day—he also recorded the quickest race simulation in Bahrain’s opening test, giving Ferrari fans something to look forward to.
Despite those positives, he wasn’t particularly thrilled with how it felt behind the wheel. He described it as “rallying” and compared the speed to “GP2” levels.
The seven-time world champion went without a podium in his debut season but believes he’ll be more at ease with the SF-26 after having a say in its development process.
Lewis Hamilton starts to enjoy Ferrari during F1 testing
Hamilton had a rough time with last year’s car, and that was clear again in Abu Dhabi when he crashed during final practice. It just capped off what had been a forgettable season.
But during testing, Anthony Davidson noticed something different. He said Hamilton seemed more settled in the Ferrari, picking up on changes in the car’s behaviour.
This year, though, things already look different. Hamilton appears more comfortable behind the wheel of the SF-26. There are early signs that Ferrari have made adjustments to suit his driving style.
“He’s really pushing this lap. It looks like he’s enjoying it,” Davidson noted.
“This is the most at home I’ve seen Lewis look in a Ferrari for quite some time, actually.”
“It still hadn’t clicked last week and even towards the end of last year. In Abu Dhabi, that strange spin he had in free practice… it looks like he’s getting stuck in here.
“The body language of the car… it looks like he’s enjoying it a bit more. Right on the edge, moving around; it’s how Hamilton likes a car to behave.”
Lewis Hamilton says he feels ‘more connected’ to Ferrari’s 2026 F1 car
He explained in a pre-season press conference that he began simulator work on the new car as early as last spring, and believes his input is already making a difference.
Carlos Sainz was Leclerc’s teammate for four seasons before Hamilton joined, while Leclerc himself has been part of Ferrari since 2019. That continuity may explain why Leclerc had such a clear edge in their first year together.
“This is a car that I’ve been able to be a part of developing on the simulator for the last ten months, eight months, and so a bit of my DNA is within it. So I’m more connected to this one for sure.”
The changes under the 2026 regulations might also play to Hamilton’s strengths. Alex Albon recently pointed out that the weight reduction could help him take corners even more sharply than before.
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