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Hamilton and Ferrari 'remapping and reconfiguring things' before Bahrain test
09:38, 01 Feb
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After an impressive first winter test for Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari, preparations continue to ramp up before the second winter test in Bahrain.
"We will have meetings in between our long shoot days, so we have big shoot days next week."- Lewis Hamilton
After a dismal 2025 debut with the Scuderia, 2026 winter testing got off to a positive start for the seven-time World Champion, setting a 1:16.348 and unofficially clocking the fastest time of the entire winter test.
Focus will shift to the upcoming winter testing in Bahrain across the grid, which takes place across three days, from February 11-13.
However, for Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc, there will be many other things to juggle during the time between the two winter tests.
Lewis Hamilton in action during the first winter testing of the 2026 season in Barcelona - Photo: Ferrari
"It'll be quite busy, as we still have a lot of promotional days next week," explained the 41-year-old.
"Next week's mostly a promotional period. Obviously, the team will be digesting everything that's happened this week, taking all our notes from Charles and me, and reworking, remapping, and reconfiguring things for the Bahrain test, setting up a plan.
"We will have meetings in between our long shoot days, so we have big shoot days next week."
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Plenty of preparation before Melbourne
Only a few more weeks will pass until Sunday, March 8, with that date marking the start of the 2026 F1 season at the Australian Grand Prix.
In between then, along with the long promotional shoots for Ferrari, preparations continue to ramp up behind the scenes for Hamilton, Leclerc and the Ferrari team.
"Charles and I, we do them all together, but I think they're like eight or ten-hour shoot days, so not crazy," explained the Brit.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will pair up once again after a disappointing 2025 season - Photo: Ferrari
"Still, in between them, there's training in the morning, though Charles doesn't like to get up early, so I don't think he'll be training!
"After the shoots, we have the meeting with the engineers in between, so they're full days, and it should be fun; then there are sim day, and then just training, getting prepared for the test.
"Then, we'll be away for a couple of weeks, then we come back, and there'll be a couple more promo days, and then probably some preparation for the race in Melbourne."
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