Last year, the seven-time world champion became the first Scuderia driver in 44 years to complete a full F1 season without scoring a podium, with the last to do so being Didier Pironi in 1981.

After a strong pre-season however, the 41-year-old enters the 2026 F1 season with renewed optimism that his team "has everything it takes to win" with an SF-26 that has more of the Hamilton "DNA."

Speaking to Corriere della Sera, Hamilton said he wants to "rediscover joy," after a torrid 2025 campaign left him asking himself if he was doing enough to turn the tide.

He said: "It’s about analysing where you are, setting goals and a way to achieve them.

“My goal last year was to win the world championship with Ferrari, but I didn’t succeed.

Hamilton also suggested he felt 'weighed down' by the responsibilities of last season, adding: "You have to rediscover joy. When we presented the new car, I felt as happy as a child."

The Briton then looked ahead to the 2026 season, and was asked whether a potential title fight with Charles Leclerc could cause him a few issues.

"I don’t see it that way. Ferrari is one thing: in Italy and abroad, people follow it like a religion and love it like the Pope. My goal is not to divide the fans.

“We both want to win, and obviously, I want to be the one to do it, and I’m working towards that. But the team comes first. Charles is a phenomenal driver in terms of his driving and his ethics, and he’s been here for eight years. But I’m coming into this championship in a different way.

"I've been working on the 2026 car for 14 months, on the simulator and with the engineers. Compared to the previous one, which I found already designed and could change very little, this car has a bit of my DNA in it, and that excites me.”

On the subject of Ferrari's impressive performance in pre-season, Hamilton admitted he was only certain of one thing.

"This team has everything it takes to win; we have to get the job done together with the fans. It’s easier said than done, but I came to Ferrari because I believed in it, and I still do.”

On social media, Hamilton marked his 20th season in F1 with an emotional statement, reflecting on his career’s “incredible highs and brutal lows” before sending a defiant “no holding back” message to those “who tried to knock me down.”