Hamilton: Ferrari SF-26 'Slower Than GP2' in Bahrain

Lewis Hamilton sharply criticized the pace, drivability and technical rules of Formula 1’s 2026 cars after the opening morning of official pre‑season testing in Bahrain. Driving Ferrari’s SF‑26, he called the new package “slower than GP2” and described the engine and energy‑management systems as “ridiculously complex.” He said the car felt “shorter, lighter” and “like rallying,” warned that adaptive algorithms that learn a driver’s style could be disrupted by incidents such as lock‑ups, and cautioned that the added complexity risks confusing fans.

The criticism centered on the radical shift in the 2026 power‑unit formula — a roughly 50/50 split of power between the internal‑combustion engine and electrical systems — which has left many cars energy‑starved and forced teams to prioritize energy recovery. That has produced unconventional tactics in testing and qualifying, including deliberate backing off on straights, running lower gears to harvest battery and long lift‑and‑coast stretches reported as roughly 600 meters. Hamilton nonetheless said basic energy management had felt “pretty straightforward” so far, while conceding that race trim could change the picture.

He qualified his remarks by noting Bahrain’s gusty, dusty and hotter conditions compared with the Barcelona shakedown, and by reversing earlier positive comments that the 2026 cars were “more fun” after Barcelona. Early in testing he ran wide several times, spun in the morning and finished roughly one second behind session leader Max Verstappen. He stressed it was still too early to judge the package because teams have not yet optimized tires, aero, ride height or mechanical balance and are “all in the same boat” as they learn the new systems.