The 2026 F1 season will be Lewis Hamilton’s “perfect opportunity for a turnaround” at Ferrari, according to former teammate Jenson Button.
Hamilton made the big move from Mercedes to Ferrari for the 2025 season, but his first year in red was a huge disappointment as the seven-time world champion went a full season without a Grand Prix podium for the first time in his career.
But the introduction of radical new regulations for the 2026 season brings hopes that Ferrari can offer Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc a far more competitive car than the one that helped the team finish fourth in last year’s constructors’ championship.
Hamilton has spoken throughout his first year at Ferrari about his attempts to influence the design of the 2026 car, and Button believes how successful he is in that mission will play a key role in how the new season unfolds, starting with next month’s Australian Grand Prix.
“It’s more about whether he was able to influence the car itself, that’s the question,” said Sky Sports F1 pundit Button, the 2009 world champion who drove alongside Hamilton at McLaren from 2010 to 2012.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Two years on from Lewis Hamilton’s shocking transfer deadline day move to Ferrari, we take a look back at the ups and downs of his debut year with the team.
“It’s always difficult to jump into another team playing against a team that’s been there for years, but now he’s spent time with the team and has a good relationship and hopefully he can get a lot of input on the direction and feel of the car.”
“This is a big year for him. If it didn’t go well this year, we don’t know if it will work again. This is a great opportunity for him to turn it around.”
“But also for Ferrari. It hasn’t been a great few years for them either, so it’s great to see them fighting for wins again.”
Hamilton and Ferrari impress at first Bahrain test
Button was speaking ahead of the first of F1’s two official pre-season test events in Bahrain, with Ferrari putting in a very impressive performance in the first event last week.
Lap times during testing always need to be viewed with caution given that teams may hold back on performance, but Ferrari’s combination of speed and reliability has undoubtedly impressed ahead of the final three-day test starting on Wednesday.
Hamilton’s race simulation on the final day of the first event impressed McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, who compared it to the efforts of his own drivers Oscar Piastri and Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli during the same session.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Sky Sports’ Craig Slater and Ted Kravitz reflect on pre-season testing so far after the first week of driving in Bahrain.
Stella said: “We can confirm that Ferrari’s race pace is quite competitive. In the simulation that Hamilton did today, there was one car from Antonelli and one from Oscar at the same time.”
“Looking at the times, I think Antonelli and Hamilton were faster than us in today’s race simulation. Still, I would say that Charles’ race yesterday was very competitive and on the same level as today’s simulation.”
“At the same time, I want people to be careful not to look too much into what they see on the test.
“But I think the early signs from a competitive standpoint definitely put Ferrari and Mercedes at the top of the list, especially in terms of where they seem to be ready from a performance standpoint. I can’t comment on reliability, but this is something we’ll see.”
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Watch highlights from day 3 of the first Bahrain pre-season test.
Hamilton is understood to have been faster than Leclerc, albeit in more favorable conditions with a more developed track, and could have taken further encouragement from his own race run.
Sky Sports F1’s Ted Kravitz said: “With the upgrade package we brought in on the second day in Bahrain (new front wing, new floor, new diffuser), Ferrari finished the race simulation fastest with Charles Leclerc on Thursday and Lewis Hamilton on Friday, finishing the Bahrain Grand Prix ahead of everyone else.”
“Lewis’ race run was faster than Charles’s, but on a more rubberized track, albeit at the same time of day.”
Sky Sports F1 Bahrain test schedule
Test 2: Wednesday 18th, Thursday 19th, Friday 20th February
6:50am to 11:05am: Morning session live 11:55am to 4:10pm: Afternoon session live 8pm: Test lap
Watch every race of the 2026 F1 season live on Sky Sports, including the Australian Grand Prix from March 6-8. Stream Sky Sports now – cancel anytime with no contract
