Lewis Hamilton: Ferrari driver says 'no holding back' for 20th Formula 1 season as he targets 2026 success

Lewis Hamilton has promised "no holding back" as he embarks on his 20th season of Formula 1 "still standing, still hungry, still focused on the dream".

Hamilton prepares for this weekend's season-opening Australian Grand Prix having already said he feels "re-set and refreshed" ahead of a second campaign with Ferrari in which he will bid to quickly banish the disappointments of the first, when he failed to record a podium finish for the first time in his career.

Ferrari head to Melbourne hotly tipped alongside Mercedes to fight at the front of the field after an impressive pre-season of testing and seven-time champion Hamilton has made clear he is looking forward to his landmark campaign.

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Writing on Instagram in a post containing images from his record-breaking career so far, the 41-year-old said: "Twenty seasons as an F1 driver. It's hard to even grasp the reality of that number.

"It started with a dream. A dream some called ridiculous and said would never amount to anything. Despite that, the dream never changed, and I never stopped chasing it.

"A dream has to be matched with action and, above all, belief. Belief that doesn't break no matter what's thrown in your face or what you come up against. There will always be people who doubt you, people who try to block you, but you can't ever stop fighting.

"Twenty years filled with incredible highs and brutal lows, with more mistakes than I can count. But those mistakes made the journey even sweeter. You hold the power to your destiny. Everything you need to succeed is within you. You will need help along the way, like I did, but that spark, that fire, is already inside you.

"I'm forever grateful for the lessons, the quiet moments, the chaos, and the many people who helped me chase and achieve my dreams.

"I'm grateful for the doubters and for the ones who tried to knock me down, too. I'm still here, 20 years on, still standing, still hungry, still focused on the dream.

"No holding back."

Can Hamilton enjoy a stronger 2026 campaign?

In a feature assessing the grid's leading driver line-ups, Sky Sports F1's Anthony Davidson said:

"Lewis has found things tough the last couple of years. Let's see if he can bounce back with this new iteration of cars.

"I believe they're going to suit his style more. 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.

"[Team-mate Charles] Leclerc is a phenomenal driver, super-fast, probably one of, if not the fastest drivers on the grid, especially in qualifying. He doesn't mind a car that moves around under him. He's very flamboyant in the way he drives, and I really enjoy watching that.

"But I think the pair of them last year at certain points found things tough. I'm sure the car wasn't easy to drive, so let's see how they go this year. I'm expecting them to be a force to be reckoned with once again."

Sky Sports F1's Martin Brundle:

"As F1 fans, we always want Ferrari to do well. I'd love to see that come right for Lewis. He seems a bit happier. He will be great at using the tools available to him on these new cars.

"He's got to beat Charles Leclerc, who is right on it as well.

"A happy Lewis has always been, and not just at Ferrari, a fast Lewis. And I have to say Ferrari have been quite innovative over the winter, so I'm confident Lewis will have a better year."

Sky Sports F1's Australian GP schedule

Thursday March 5
3am: Drivers' Press Conference
6am: Paddock Uncut
9.45pm: F3 Practice
10.55pm: F2 Practice

Friday March 6
1am: Australian GP Practice One (session starts at 1.30am)*
2.55am: F3 Qualifying*
3.30am: Team Bosses Press Conference
3.50am: F2 Qualifying*
4.35am: Australian GP Practice Two (session starts at 5am)*
6.15am: The F1 Show*

Saturday March 7
0.10am: F3 Sprint*
1.10am: Australian GP Practice Three (session starts at 1.30am)*
3.05am: F2 Sprint*
4.10am: Australian GP Qualifying build-up*
5am: AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING*
7am: Ted's Qualifying Notebook*
9.45pm: F3 Feature Race*

Sunday March 8
12.20am: F2 Feature Race*
2.30am: Australian GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
4am: THE AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX*
6am: Australian GP reaction: Chequered Flag*
7am: Ted's Notebook*
7.55am: Australian GP race replay*
10am: Australian GP highlights (also on Sky One)*

*Also on Sky Sports Main Event

Watch every race of the 2026 Formula 1 season live on Sky Sports, starting with the Australian Grand Prix from March 6-8. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime

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