F1 Today: Hamilton marks birthday with bold message, Audi land historic milestone

Lewis Hamilton penned an emotional message of reflection to fans on the occasion of his birthday. The Scuderia Ferrari driver, who turned 41, took to his social media to share a lengthy note alongside a carousel of snapshots and footage from his winter holiday ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season.

Hamilton’s message touched on his torrid maiden campaign at Ferrari, which he described as a “draining year,” and the time he spent with his loved ones during the break. The seven-time F1 champion also highlighted his consciousness of the new year, which he described as an opportunity for change and new routines.

The former Mercedes driver concluded his message with a crucial reminder of resilience, which he acknowledged played a part in getting through his debut year at Ferrari.

While the F1 world continued to digest the news, the Audi F1 team announced it had fired up its engine for the 2026 campaign.

The event took place at Audi’s Hinwil facility on December 19, marking the first time the Audi power unit has been run while installed in the chassis.

It also serves as a key milestone for the German manufacturer, which is set to unveil its car on 20 January in Berlin before heading to Barcelona for closed-door testing.

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