Lewis Hamilton was shocked after the first laps in Ferrari’s new car SF-26 with 2026 regulations. The seven-time British champion was particularly impressed by the support from tifosi, which he described as “unforgettable”.

On Friday morning, Ferrari introduced its first car under the new power unit rules at the Fiorano test track, and then the first race took place. As usual, Tifosi appeared on the track a few hours before the start, creating a unique atmosphere for the team and drivers.

Hamilton was the first to take to the track with the new car, and then Charles Leclerc took over the leadership. Both drivers waved to the fans during the race, and Fiorano’s configuration allowed them to feel the atmosphere of support especially closely.

“Last year I drove a red car for the first time and it was incredibly unique, it was like a first experience and it will always be a first.

However, in this car, it is obvious that the cockpit is quite bright due to the external appearance, and this is great. The good thing is, you always hope you’ll fit in when you come back. Luckily I adapted completely.

I don’t know, it’s so exciting to start the car and feel the new vibrations of the car throughout your body. Then the doors open and you go to the first corner where you can literally see Tifosi.

“This is something I will never get used to and something I will never forget.”

Williams’ drivers Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon reacted on social media to the news that the team will not compete in the closed pre-season test to be held in Barcelona next week.

The British team will miss the first test under Formula 1’s new technical rules. Related media state that Williams has recently had difficulty passing the FIA’s mandatory crash tests and has therefore decided not to take to the track in Barcelona.

A special five-day test is planned for next week at the Barcelona circuit, with each team able to practice for three days. Williams will instead carry out a series of internal tests, including a VTT (Virtual Test Track) programme, to prepare the FW48 for the first official test in Bahrain and the start of the season in Melbourne.

Pilots shared the team’s statement on their Instagram stories. Sainz’s article is as follows:

“We are determined to work until the end! I can’t wait to hit the track soon!”

Albon, who is preparing for his fifth season with Williams, added:

“It’s not the start of the year we wanted, but it’s what happens when you push yourself to your limits! Full concentration forward!”

Despite the optimism of the drivers, missing some of the pre-season testing represents a serious setback and failure for Williams.

McLaren team leader Andrea Stella has called on Formula 1 to explain the rules for the 2026 season clearly and in detail to fans, as the new rules will radically change the type of racing.

Next season will likely bring the biggest technical changes in F1 history. Cars will become smaller and lighter, and the balance between the internal combustion engine and electrical energy will approach 50/50 for the first time.

The increasing role of electric power means energy management will become an important factor in racing. Pilots will be able to both accumulate charge and use the new overtaking mode that will replace DRS. In fact, this is a push-to-go button that allows the maximum power of 350 kW to be maintained for a longer period of time, creating situations where one pilot has to attack while the other has to save energy.

This is expected to significantly change the nature of overtaking. Mercedes driver George Russell previously predicted “overtaking in the most unexpected places”, while Williams boss James Walz said the challenge would be “very different to what it is now”.

Stella echoed these thoughts and emphasized that all these processes should be explained clearly to the audience:

“It is important for fans to understand why sometimes one vehicle can overtake another so easily. For example, due to different battery charge levels. Using the power unit as a tool for tackling and overtaking will be very important and this needs to be communicated correctly.”

“Or they can tell when one car’s battery is almost fully charged and the car in front has a nearly flat battery.

“I therefore believe that understanding the powertrain as a variable for racing and overtaking will be particularly important for us to communicate effectively with our audience.”

Separately, McLaren’s president focused on active aerodynamics, which will appear on the front and rear wings. In the so-called straight mode (similar to DRS zones), the wings switch to a mode with a lower angle of attack and before turns the car automatically turns into corner mode with higher downforce.

“This should be clear to our fans and viewers: What does this mean in terms of energy consumption? If you don’t spread your wings, you’re going to waste a lot more energy,” Stella said.

“For example, what does this mean in terms of clearance? If the wings aren’t open, the vehicle is traveling much lower and suddenly you can see the bottom impacts and you can hear the pilots on the radio saying, ‘Oh, there’s a lot of bottom impacts right now.’

“So the more clearly we explain this to fans and spectators, the more interested they will be and the better we can maintain the spectacle that we have always offered in Formula 1, which is one of the reasons why the championship has grown in popularity in recent years.”