Ferrari's chances of competing for Formula 1 glory this year have taken a major turn for the better. However, Lewis Hamilton has long since hinted improvements were coming based on his previous remarks refusing to accept mediocrity.

It was midway through the Briton's abject first year at Maranello that Hamilton sent a defiant message regarding his Ferrari career. Despite his arrival in Italy being met with a wave of expectation, it quickly became clear Hamilton's search for an eighth world championship in Ferrari colours would not be a straightforward one. He ended his debut Ferrari campaign in sixth place and failed to record a single podium finish. That's in contrast to team-mate Charles Leclerc, who mustered six podium finishes to suggest the SF-25, Ferrari's 2025 car, was capable of competing after all.

With the long-awaited 2026 F1 regulations now coming into play, the landscape has changed for numerous outfits heading into the new season. And after finishing the first week of testing in Barcelona with the fastest time, hopes are abound that this new campaign could bring fresh optimism in Italy.

Rewind to last summer when Hamilton gave a defiant account of the situation despite Ferrari's struggles. And his never-say-die attitude was on full display even then.

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"If you look at the team over the last 20 years, they've had amazing drivers," the 41-year-old said in July 2025. "You've had Kimi, you've had Fernando, you've had Sebastian, all world champions, however they didn't win a world championship and I refuse for that to be the case with me, so I'm going the extra mile."

While it may not have borne fruit in 2025, much of the work put into last season could still prove profitable for Ferrari. And the early evidence suggests 2026 has the potential to be a much more successful year.

Hamilton's former employers, Mercedes, grabbed a great deal of headlines at Catalunya after putting in 500 laps over the course of the past week. However, Ferrari featured among the other major talking points due to its impressive speed around the track.

Much has been made of the new F1 regulations, mostly relating to changes in power unit supply and aerodynamics. However, Leclerc gave a sense of optimism in response to Ferrari's performance in Barcelona.

"I think there's a lot of excitement, not only in Ferrari but I think around the whole paddock," said the Monegasque. "It's an exciting time for Formula 1."

After a fourth-place finish in last year's constructor championship, Ferrari have a big point to prove as they look to re-establish themselves as a title contender. And despite his advancing years, Hamilton could still have a big role to play in achieving that aim.

Following his lowest finish as an F1 driver, the seven-time title-winner is under immense pressure to bring his team on par with those at the front of the pack. And while results may have dipped, Hamilton is unlikely to have lost any of the appetite that made him the joint-most successful driver in the sport's history.