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Lewis Hamilton Shatters 2026 F1 Car Myths with Bold Claims
Highlights
- Hamilton won first 2026 Grand Prix at Barcelona with Ferrari.
- He earned five podiums and 169 points in six 2026 races.
- 2026 cars suit no single driving style more than others.
- Hamilton prefers aggressive “V-ing” style over 2025’s “U-ing” technique.
- 2026 cars feel lighter and require refined throttle control.
- Hamilton is adapting while competing strongly for podiums and wins.
Lewis Hamilton downplays claims the 2026 Formula 1 cars inherently suit him, despite a strong start with Ferrari that includes five podiums, 169 points, and victory at Barcelona.
The rebound follows his toughest year in 2025, when he scored 156 points, won the Chinese Sprint, but failed to secure a Grand Prix podium in his first Ferrari season.
Barcelona marked Hamilton’s first Grand Prix win with Ferrari and his first race victory since 2024.
Hamilton frames the contrast through driving style. The 2025 ground‑effect cars tended to reward ‘U‑ing’—early braking, smooth rotation, and carrying minimum speed through the apex.
His preference remains ‘V‑ing’—later braking, sharp rotation, and a straighter exit. That approach underpinned his 2017–2021 success at Mercedes, yielding four titles and 50 wins.
Hamilton maintains the 2026 ruleset does not favor one technique; the field has adapted together.
He insists the 2026 package doesn’t privilege his style. The adjustments he makes are typical, even as he continues to challenge Ferrari’s decisions to extract marginal gains.
Technically, the cars feel lighter and more forgiving, with bouncing largely absent. The bigger shift is power delivery, where throttle application demands greater finesse across the lap.
Throttle sensitivity is decisive in 2026, with small pedal changes materially affecting balance and speed.
Half‑throttle, full‑throttle, and subtle lifts now carry larger consequences for rotation and traction. Hamilton says he can still drive in his preferred style, but without a built‑in advantage.
The emphasis has moved toward collaboration with engineers, refining throttle use and car behaviour corner‑by‑corner—a different pathway to performance than recent years and consistent with his mid‑season breakthrough mindset after prior downhill spiral moments.
Within that framework, Hamilton remains a consistent podium threat as Ferrari evolves its package. The adaptation theme extends across the grid, from veterans to rookies such as Kimi Antonelli, underlining that 2026 rewards execution rather than a single driving archetype.
As development accelerates, Hamilton’s ability to blend old habits with new demands will shape Ferrari’s trajectory and determine whether early momentum translates into a sustained campaign.
Visual Summary
‘V-ing’
Aggressive: Late brake, sharp turn,
quick power—Hamilton’s winning style
quick power—Hamilton’s winning style
‘U-ing’
Smooth: Early brake, flow through
corners—2025 car rewarded this
corners—2025 car rewarded this
2026: Hamilton & Ferrari Roar 🏆
Hamilton returns to race-winning form—5 podiums & a Barcelona GP victory in just 6 races.
169 points already, outscoring his whole 2025 tally.
169 points already, outscoring his whole 2025 tally.
2025
156
156
2026
169+
169+
🏁
🪖
🪖
“The car suits my style, but it doesn’t favor me alone—everyone’s had to adapt.”
Hamilton is thriving in the new era—combining his old ‘V-ing’ edge with modern throttle wizardry. The bounce is gone; power and precision are king.
New Ferrari. New energy. Old champion.
New Ferrari. New energy. Old champion.
James William covers the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, from the Rolex 24 at Daytona to sprint-race formats. His reports include prototype performance reviews, GT class battles, and pit-stop strategy insights for endurance-racing fans.
