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Lewis Hamilton got behind the wheel of his SF-26 for the first time at Fiorano on Friday as Ferrari began their preparations for 2026.
Ferrari fans are reminded of Kimi Raikkonen’s 2016 car after seeing the 2026 challenger’s livery. It features much more white around the cockpit than its predecessor, which failed to win a race in 2025.
Hamilton did not score a podium in the SF-25, culminating in what is arguably his worst season to date. With the new technical regulations, it could be the fresh start he needs to perform.
Are we looking at the car that will win Ferrari their first drivers’ championship since 2007?
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Having stayed at the factory at Maranello, which Ferrari have not seen since the Michael Schumacher days, Hamilton got into the cockpit of the SF-26 at Fiorano for its first shakedown.
The run sparked chaos on social media as the Brit appeared to stop on track, not long after getting going. But it later emerged that there were no issues with the car and that it was simply a part of their filming.
F1 fans are loving the 2026 car designs after seeing Lewis Hamilton’s ‘menacing’ Ferrari onboard shots
Onboard shots emerged from Hamilton’s SF-26, giving fans a closer look at the new cockpit, suspension and steering wheel design. They were all loving the new-look machines on Reddit.
One fan said: “NGL, this looks old school cool.” Another added: “The new cars look fantastic onboard as well!”
“I love the look of these new cars,” wrote another user.
Many fans pointed out how good the car looked without the wheel arches around the tyres: “I for one am happy about the lack of wheelbrows,” commented one fan.
One user added: “Onboards look 1000x better without those wheel arches,” while another replied: “Now that you mentioned it, I too notice the same. Looks menacing.”
READ MORE: Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton’s life outside F1 from net worth to family
Have Ferrari already made a mistake with their 2026 car?
The pressure is immense at Ferrari in 2026. After a winless 2025 season, the Tifosi will want to see the Prancing Horse stand on the top step of the podium.
No one will want that within the team more than Hamilton, with rumours suggesting that he could leave Ferrari and F1 altogether at the end of 2026. The SF-26 could be the 41-year-old’s last chance at glory.
Is a lack of confidence the REAL reason why Lewis Hamilton has struggled at Ferrari?
Early signs do look encouraging, however, as Ferrari may have found a ‘crucial’ advantage with their refined engine packaging and sidepod designs. These could elevate the team’s performance and put them towards the front.
However, the spec Hamilton drove at Fiorano is not the final version of the SF-26. Ferrari will bring a different sidepod design to Melbourne in March, so it is unclear whether their advantage will last.
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