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Ferrari dealt negative verdict over F1 livery shake-up

Last week, Ferrari unveiled its F1 livery for the new season with a notable dash of white added to the traditional red design. The car will once again be driven by Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc as the Italian squad goes in search of ending its championship drought. Ferrari last tasted title success in 2008 when it won the constructors' title, but success has been hard to come by in recent years. But at the start of a new era for the sport, Ferrari is hopeful it can immediately launch itself into the fight at the front. Amid the launch season fever, RacingNews365 asked you, the fans, if you are a fan of the new Ferrari livery. A majority of responses declared they did not like it, believing it features too much white and not enough of Ferrari's iconic red livery. See the full poll result below! Do you like the striking new 2026 Ferrari F1 livery?

racingnews365.com·Jan 28

Lewis Hamilton delivers early Ferrari verdict after first 2026 laps

Lewis Hamilton cut a positive figure after his initial experience behind the wheel of Ferrari's new F1 challenger on Tuesday. Ferrari made its first appearance at the shakedown test on Day 2, with Charles Leclerc handling morning duties before Hamilton took over in the afternoon. Unfortunately for Hamilton, all of his running came in wet conditions as rain saturated the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Despite the weather setback, Ferrari was able to clock up respectable mileage - leaving Hamilton to look back on the day favourably. “It was very challenging, it started raining at 10:30, so obviously Charles had a little bit of dry running,” he said. “But then it's been wet all afternoon, so figuring out how to get the tyres working, it was really productive. “I think we got 120 laps or something like that - given it's in the wet conditions, and we had a red flag, I think that's pretty solid. “So [I'm] really proud of everyone back at the factory for getting the car to this point. “We got a lot of information on the car today, we definitely need to keep it up. Lots and lots to do, but a good first day.” The major regulation change this year marks an opportunity for Ferrari to spiral up the pecking order and compete at the front of the field once again following a dismal 2025 campaign. With no major concerns coming its way on Tuesday, Hamilton is hoping it is a theme that will continue for the Italian squad going forward. “It could be so much worse,” he said. “It's such a big regulation change. There were no major issues. “It's just small little increments that we are trying to improve on. I think it's great. We just need to try and get some more days like this.”

racingnews365.com·Jan 24

Lewis Hamilton left stunned after first Ferrari 2026 F1 laps

Lewis Hamilton was left stunned after completing his first laps of 2026 in Ferrari’s new SF-26, with the reception from the Tifosi being something the Briton will “never be able to forget.” On Friday morning, the Maranello-based outfit unveiled its first car for the new F1 power unit regulations at its Fiorano test track, before conducting its initial shakedown. In traditional fashion, fans of Ferrari, known as the Tifosi, were present at the circuit several hours before the launch — one of the most unique occasions in the sport. Hamilton was the first to complete laps in Ferrari’s latest F1 car, before Charles Leclerc took over to gauge his initial impression of the car. Both drivers waved to the Tifosi during their running, with the layout of the Fiorano circuit offering them a special experience. As Hamilton explained, the Tifosi standing around the first corner become visible the moment the garage door opens — a feeling the seven-time world champion still finds incredible. The entire day of launching the SF-26 was full of excitement for the 41-year-old, who was relieved to fit comfortably into the cockpit. Asked what it was like driving Ferrari's new car, Hamilton told F1 : "Well, I mean, last year was the first time sitting in a red car, and that was so unique as a first, and that will always be the first. "But I mean, in this one, obviously the cockpit is quite white because we’ve got the livery — it’s great. The good thing is, when you come back, you always hope you fit. Fortunately, I fit completely fine. "I don’t know, it’s just so exciting when they fire the car up and you get the new vibration of the car through your body. Then they open up the door, and you end up going down to Turn 1, where you can literally see the Tifosi when they open the door. "That’s something I will never get used to, and something I’ll never be able to forget."

racingnews365.com·Jan 24

FIA confident of winning over Max Verstappen and F1 'superstars' as contentious new rules debut loom

The FIA has no doubt the likes of Max Verstappen and his fellow F1 "superstars" will eventually be won over by the biggest rules change in F1 history once they become accustomed to the style of racing. When the FIA first proposed a shift to a 50-50 split between combustion and electrical power in 2023, it drew stern criticism from the likes of four-time F1 champion Verstappen initially, who described them as "terrible" , and that F1 would be "drawn into an ICE competition...whoever has the strongest engine will have a big benefit". Last season, when questioned at various stages, the drivers were far from complimentary following simulator sessions. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, for instance, described it as "not the most enjoyable car" he had driven, whilst Williams' Carlos Sainz said it was "very complicated". The drivers will be mentally tested as they manage the battery levels around a lap, knowing when to deploy and when to hold back, particularly if the battery depletes on long straights, as is the suspicion. Asked by RacingNews365 in an exclusive interview whether comments such as those from Verstappen were taken on board, FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis said: "Yes, we do take a lot of the comments on board. "We do have a lot of discussions with the drivers. Ultimately, they are the superstars of the sport. "That said, we also have to take a lot of factors into consideration - the fan experience, the participating manufacturers, we need to keep costs under control, to look after safety, of course, and we need to look after environmental factors. "So the parameters are not just the drivers. We need to speak to a lot of people. In addition, not everybody who votes in various rule changes always has the same view. "That's why we have a voting system, and sometimes with a voting structure, it is quite challenging to get changes, even if we all believe a certain change should be made. "So I think we do take [driver comments] into account, but drivers are inherently conservative. They get used to driving certain things, and they may not immediately want to change something. "I'm sure that when they first go in a car, it will feel different, and they will get the sense of familiarity they've had for the last five years. "I'm sure we will get there, and we will keep speaking with them." As to whether he felt they would be won over in the end, Tombazis replied: "More than just the end. Hopefully, a bit earlier than that."

racingnews365.com·Jan 23

Lewis Hamilton shows off new F1 'active aero' as 2026 Ferrari makes debut

Lewis Hamilton has become the first F1 driver to showcase the new active aerodynamics to be used in the 2026 season. Hamilton was on-track at Fiorano on Friday as Ferrari's new 2026 machine had its first on-track shakedown shortly after it was launched. The seven-time champion on his laps in the car before handing over to Charles Leclerc for his allotted laps used the new active aerodynamics, with this being caught on camera for the first time. During the shakedowns for Audi, Cadillac, Racing Bulls, Mercedes, and Alpine, no footage of the new movable wings was captured or shown. The rear wing acts like traditional DRS with just a slot gap opening, but on the front wing, the usual downforce-producing wing elements dropped down when activated. Check out the footage of Hamilton using the active aerodynamics below! 2014659616370491502 Believe this is the first time we’ve seen the active aero with these regs as Lewis Hamilton’s rear wing opens on the SF-26 as he comes down the straight. pic.twitter.com/9qJzN9Fkz8 — Daniel Valente 🏎️ (@F1GuyDan) January 23, 2026

racingnews365.com·Jan 20

A year on since Lewis Hamilton broke the internet

Exactly one year ago today, Lewis Hamilton stood outside Enzo Ferrari's house in Modena, dressed immaculately in a Ferragamo three-piece suit, posing beside an F40. The image, posted on 20 January 2025, became the most liked Instagram post in Formula 1 history, amassing 5.7 million likes and reaching 25 million views on X. It was a moment of pure theatre, capturing the weight of expectation placed upon Hamilton to restore Ferrari's glory after 17 years without a constructors' championship. The seven-time world champion's carefully curated appearance, complete with reports of him speaking Italian, signalled his total commitment to the Scuderia. What followed, however, was anything but glorious. Article continues below the Instagram post... https://www.instagram.com/p/DFC5g6WsxQW/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lewis Hamilton (@lewishamilton) Hamilton's nightmare 2025 in red Hamilton's 2025 campaign became the worst of his career. For the first time since joining F1 in 2007, he completed an entire season without a single grand prix podium. His only appearance on the top step of a rostrum came in the China Sprint last March, an anomaly that only highlighted how dire his Sundays became. The numbers tell a brutal story. Hamilton finished sixth in the championship with 156 points, 86 behind teammate Charles Leclerc's 242. He averaged four positions below Leclerc in qualifying and suffered a historic collapse at the season's end, becoming the first full-time Ferrari driver since 2009 to qualify last. Three consecutive Q1 eliminations from Las Vegas to Abu Dhabi capped a nightmare he openly described as such. The SF-25 was fundamentally flawed. A backfiring suspension change, an extremely narrow operating window, and braking instability plagued the car. After both Ferraris were disqualified in China for plank wear and weight violations, the team was forced into conservative setups that sacrificed performance. Hamilton, adapting to machinery built without his input after 12 Mercedes years, never found comfort with the driving style required. Article continues below... Hamilton's 2026 reset Ferrari made a calculated decision in April 2025, stopping major development after determining the SF-25's concept carried irreparable limitations. Everything pivoted to 2026, where sweeping regulation changes offer a clean slate for all teams. The new rules introduce lighter, more agile cars with active aerodynamics, redesigned hybrid power units with an even split between combustion and electric power, and a manual override system replacing DRS. It represents the most significant overhaul in F1 history. For Hamilton, 2026 is critical. Reports suggest Ferrari are developing a split strategy to suit both him and Leclerc, with a third sidepod concept planned for the Australian season opener in March. Three separate pre-season testing sessions, starting in Barcelona on 26 January, provide crucial preparation time. That viral photograph from a year ago promised a fairytale ending to Hamilton's career. Instead, 2025 delivered pain. Now, the 41-year-old faces his last great challenge: proving the dream is merely delayed, not dead.