Ahead of this weekend's Australian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton has revealed that he called two Formula 1 team principals following testing in Bahrain.
This week, all eyes will be on Melbourne, Australia, as the 2026 F1 season gets underway.
With major changes made to the sport's technical regulations, there is a sense of unpredictability and unknown as F1 enters a new era.
During last month's testing in Bahrain, Ferrari and Mercedes impressed as they topped the timing sheet on multiple occasions.
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Meanwhile, other big hitters such as Red Bull and McLaren also showed what they could be capable of.
After enduring a tough debut season, Hamilton expressed positivity as he revealed that he was more connected with Ferrari's new challenger, the SF-26.
Recently, in a bid to judge where Ferrari are at, Hamilton admitted that he called Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff and McLaren CEO Zak Brown to gather information.
Speaking to Italian news outlet Corriere della Sera, Hamilton said: "Little emerged from the tests; everyone hid with their fuel loads. I called Toto Wolff at Mercedes and Zak Brown at McLaren to try to understand what they have learned, but I got no results.
"However, I am certain of one thing: after what we went through last year, we can handle any situation."
The seven-time F1 world champion continued: "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."
Lewis Hamilton asked himself 'uncomfortable question' after Ferrari debut
The 41-year-old added that he has put the blame on himself for his tough debut season, which ended with zero podium finishes. The Brit was also 86 points behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
Hamilton admitted: "My goal last year was to win the World Championship with Ferrari, but I didn’t succeed.
"That doesn’t mean I can’t get there: you have to look inside yourself and observe the people around you, from your colleagues to your family, stay motivated, and ask yourself uncomfortable questions."
Topics: Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, Formula 1
Marcus Chan