In January 2025, Lewis Hamilton paid his first visit to Ferrari’s Formula 1 factory in Maranello, Italy, following his sensational move away from Mercedes after 12 years.The seven-time world champion took in every moment, posing for photos outside team founder Enzo Ferrari’s house and looking at Ferrari’s most iconic cars up close. He visited every department, taking time to meet as many of his new colleagues as possible.Hamilton came away from his first trip to Maranello with two things: A light cold, owing to the number of hands he shook during that visit, and, more significantly, total conviction Ferrari had everything required for him to win a record eighth world championship. It was a view Hamilton shared both publicly and privately.Yet the prospect of surpassing Michael Schumacher and becoming the outright record holder for the most drivers’ titles seemed to grow bleak through much of his difficult, podium-less first year with Ferrari.Turning 41 ahead of the 2026 season, and with Mercedes emerging with the dominant new car through preseason testing, time seemed to be running out for Hamilton to make that eighth title dream a reality.
It’s already on Mercedes F1 chief Toto Wolff’s mind. He admitted to feeling uneasy about the prospect of going up against Hamilton for the championship, having seen first-hand through their many past success together just what the Briton can do.“Yes, absolutely,” was Wolff’s response to reporters when asked if Hamilton could be a title threat this year. “We’re so early in the season. It’s 41 points (difference at the top, with Hamilton currently trailing leader Kimi Antonelli). A DNF robs you of 25 points, and it’s wide open.”Ferrari debuted a bumper set of car upgrades in Barcelona. (Mark Thompson / Getty Images)“If he smells blood, he goes,” Wolff added. “I’ve seen it (in) many years where suddenly the Lewis Hamilton train started to go, and then it’s very difficult to stop it.”Wolff was speaking after seeing Antonelli, the 19-year-old who had won five of the opening six races, retire with a handful of laps remaining in Spain due to a suspected engine issue when he was running second. Although Antonelli wasn’t going to beat Hamilton on the day, the failure to finish meant his 66-point championship lead going into the Barcelona weekend took a significant hit.Even before his win, Hamilton had already disrupted what was anticipated to be an all-Mercedes battle for this year’s world championship between Antonelli and George Russell, the preseason favorite.Russell’s engine failure in Canada and zero-points return in Monaco after a penalty following a team mistake allowed Hamilton, who’d finished second in both races to Antonelli, to move up to second in the standings, two points clear of his former Mercedes teammate. After Barcelona the gap between them is nine.A bumper set of car upgrades for Ferrari that debuted in Barcelona, including a new front wing and nose, offered a decent boost in performance that allowed Hamilton to challenge Russell for pole. He qualified second, just 0.064 seconds off Russell’s fastest time.At a time when the car designs are so new, having been overhauled for 2026, upgraded parts can be particularly powerful. Mercedes’ last significant upgrade package came in Canada.“Whoever is going to be bringing those upgrades earliest is going to be taking a step forward,” said Russell. “We saw it with McLaren in Miami, having a really strong weekend, and then ourselves and Ferrari have taken a step forward thereafter.”
