Lewis Hamilton has expressed renewed confidence as he prepares for the forthcoming Formula One campaign, describing his current mental state as the strongest it has been in considerable time.
The British driver's optimism comes after a challenging inaugural season with the Scuderia, during which he failed to reach the podium and finished sixth in the championship.
His final races proved particularly troublesome, with the seven-time world champion unable to secure a qualifying position better than 13th across the last four grands prix of the year.
Despite these setbacks, Hamilton maintains he has overcome last season's difficulties and has developed a positive mindset.
Significant changes to Formula One's technical regulations have provided fresh grounds for optimism at Maranello, with modifications introduced to engines, chassis, fuel and tyres for the new season.
The Italian team demonstrated encouraging form during the opening pre-season test in Bahrain last week, completing substantial mileage that has buoyed hopes within the garage.
These promising early signs have contributed to Hamilton's excitement about his prospects for the upcoming campaign.
The combination of a reset in regulations and Ferrari's strong testing performance appears to have given the 40-year-old renewed belief that he can challenge for victories once again after his winless 2025 season.
Lewis Hamilton has expressed renewed confidence as he prepares for the forthcoming Formula One campaign
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Hamilton said: “I’ve left everything, all of last year, behind me.
"I really felt that I spent a lot of time rebuilding over this winter, refocusing, really getting my body and my mind to a much better place.
"In general, just making sure that I’m able to arrive feeling better. And I would say I generally feel personally in the best place that I’ve been in a long, long time.
"And then with the car, I think we’ve started off quite well so far. And it’s an exciting time with this new generation of car as well, because it’s all brand new."
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Ferrari failed to win a race last season
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Ferrari failed to win a race last season and Hamilton, who won the last of his seven titles in 2020, did not enjoy huge success with the ground-effect era of cars.
The new regulations have already sparked much debate, with Max Verstappen suggesting the increased need for energy management was "just not Formula One".
Hamilton has admitted the new regulations are very complicated, but is pleased that he has been able to play a part in shaping this season’s Ferrari.
He added: “Last year we were locked into a car that ultimately I inherited."
Hamilton says lessons have been learned
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He added: "This is a car that I’ve been able to be a part of developing on the simulator for the last 10 months. And so a bit of my DNA is within it. I’m more connected to this one for sure.”
Ferrari have not won the drivers’ championship since Kimi Raikkonen’s success in 2007.
Last season was a major disappointment after the Scuderia entered it expected to contend for both championships but ultimately were the fourth-best team by a distance.
Hamilton, 41, says lessons have been learned and that he was always prepared for the project to take time to succeed.
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He added: "My belief in the team is still absolutely the same. I understand the faith in this team and what they’re capable of and that’s why I joined the team.
"I knew it wasn’t going to be an overnight thing where we’d have success immediately. That’s why I signed a longer deal because I knew more often than not it’s a process.
"I feel like we’ve also learned a huge amount from last year as a team and there have been changes that we’ve made.
"I think we’re working better together than ever before so I’m excited for that moving forward.”
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