Lewis Hamilton has issued a defiant public statement to mark his 20th season in Formula 1, declaring he is “still hungry” and promising “no holding back” as the sport enters a new technical era with his Ferrari SF-26.
The 41-year-old posted the message on Instagram on March 3, accompanied by a gallery of images spanning every season of his career. It arrives after the most difficult year of Hamilton’s two decades in the sport, and weeks before the 2026 Australian Grand Prix.
What Hamilton said
Hamilton framed his career as the product of persistence against scepticism, writing: “It started with a dream. A dream some called ridiculous and said would never amount to anything.”
He addressed his critics directly: “There will always be people who doubt you, people who try to block you, but you can’t ever stop fighting.”
The post closed with a declaration: “I’m still here, 20 years on, still standing, still hungry, still focused on the dream. No holding back.”
Hamilton’s 2025 season
Hamilton’s 2025 campaign, his first full season at Ferrari, was statistically his worst. He failed to finish on the podium across the entire year, becoming the first Ferrari driver in 44 years to go a full season without one. Teammate Charles Leclerc outqualified and outscored him, and Hamilton finished sixth in the Drivers’ Championship with 156 points.
During the season, Hamilton reportedly admitted to feeling “absolutely useless” and even suggested the team consider replacing him. His description of “twenty years filled with incredible highs and brutal lows” addressed that period.
Why 2026 could be different
The 2026 regulations represent the biggest technical reset in years. The ground-effect cars Hamilton struggled with from 2022 to 2025 are gone, replaced by lighter, nimbler machines with reduced downforce.
Hamilton completed 209 laps in the Ferrari SF-26 during the Barcelona shakedown in February. He described the new-generation cars as “more fun” and “enjoyable,” noting they were “oversteery and snappy” but easier to catch than their predecessors. His fastest lap was a tenth quicker than George Russell in the Mercedes.
Hamilton said he believes his “DNA” is in the SF-26 after contributing to its development over the winter.
Sky Sports F1 analyst Anthony Davidson said the new regulations could suit Hamilton’s driving style. “I believe they’re going to suit his style more,” Davidson said. “He’ll be able to get more out of the equipment than he has done in the last couple of years with the ground-effects cars.”
The 2026 Australian Grand Prix will be the first competitive test of that theory. The 2026 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne will be the first competitive test of whether the new regulations favour Hamilton.
