The technical overhaul "challenges us all to dig deep, to innovate," claims Hamilton
Ahead of the arrival of the all-new technical regulations in 2026, Ferrari's seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton sounded a positive note when assessing the technical overhaul as it "challenges us all to dig deep, to innovate."
Although there are still ten races to complete in 2025, the majority of the teams are busy with designing their all-new cars for the coming season which will see Formula One introduce a major technical overhaul both in terms of aerodynamics and power unit.
While the discussions about the all-new 2026 technical regulation usually focus on the new power units, there will be signicifant changes to aerodynamic configuration of the F1 cars as well.
With the arrival of the new power units that will features a fifty-fitty ratio between the electric components and the internal combustion engine, the sport will introduce a host of aerodynamic changes. With these tweaks, the target is to make the cars more efficient and ensure they are able to perform similar lap-times to what we see now.
The primary tool to achieve this is 'active' aerodynamics. Previously banned – or, at least, heavily proscribed – in F1, it will allow the front and rear wings to be adjusted from corners to straights: opening to configure the car for less drag in a straight line, closing into the corners to provide more aerodynamic grip.
Ferrari's seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton has recently revealed that he has already tried out the Scuderia's 2026 F1 car in the Maranello simulator.
Asked to share his thoughts regarding the new technical regulations, the British driver welcomed the challenge the technical overhaul causes as it "challenges us all to dig deep, to innovate."
"For me, the thing I love about Formula 1 is that there are these changes that come along the way. There’s so much innovation and development. And every time they make these changes, the learning curve is so steep for everyone within the team.
"So it really challenges us all to dig deep, to innovate. Even from a driver’s perspective, it’s got more and more intricate as the years have gone on. This next step, I would say, probably the driver has even more input into the development—particularly of the power unit and how you use the power.
"I don’t really want to shut it down, because maybe things will be good. Let’s see when we get into the next season. It could go either way—it could be good, it could be not so good. But only time will tell.
"What I love is that while we’re fighting this season in this championship, we’re also having to develop the current car—and then the next car. And that, for me, is fascinating.
"If we were just with the same car all the time, evolving on a very small gradient, it just would not be anywhere near as fun," concluded the seven-time F1 champion.
