The Lewis Hamilton era begins at Ferrari but can it be a Formula 1 title-winning year for the Maranello outfit?

It can also suit the promoters. Zandvoort’s decision to stop hosting F1 after 2026 points to the pressures — and costs — involved in staging a race. Spa looked in serious doubt just a few years ago, and while the interest from the local stakeholders has certainly taken an uplift since then, a couple of off years may actually suit the track.

Lewis Hamilton will make his competitive Ferrari debut at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in March, but the Italians have an extensive testing plan in place for before then

Hamilton’s first Ferrari outings will come under the TPC (Testing of Previous Cars), which enables teams to run a used car that is at least two years old to complete a maximum of 1000km over four days.

Lewis Hamilton’s “phobia of losing” has been credited as the biggest driving force behind his six World titles with Mercedes by the team’s trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin. Hamilton said farewell to Mercedes last month,

1992 F1 world champion Nigel Mansell believes Lewis Hamilton “has got another championship in him” and has backed him to have a “total resurgence”. Hamilton will make his Ferrari F1 debut at the Australian Grand Prix in March. The 39-year-old will be hoping to rediscover his previous form after a disappointing final year with Mercedes.