Lewis Hamilton reveals gruelling Christmas schedule

Lewis Hamilton has said he will already be back in "training" for the 2026 season by Christmas, with F1 set for its shortest winter in memory.

The comprehensive rewrite of the championship's chassis and power unit regulations means there will be an extra official pre-season test and a private test for all 11 teams at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya — home of the Spanish Grand Prix — in late January.

This has drastically reduced the length of the down period for teams, drivers and staff, with the 24-round calendar also now going into the second week of December when the post-season test is factored in.

Therefore, between the last track action at the Yas Marina Circuit — following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix — and the start of the private test in Spain, there are only 47 days.

Due to the rules overhaul, the F1 teams have been working on their new cars for much of the current campaign, but when Hamilton was asked when 2026 "starts" for him, he explained the extent of the workload ahead.

"It already really starts next week," the seven-time F1 drivers' champion told media, including RacingNews365, before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

"We've already been working in the background on 2026 over several months."

Last week, Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur revealed the team stopped aerodynamic development on the SF-25 in April as it turned its attention to 2026, something that has impacted its results on track.

The Italian squad, and Hamilton, have endured a torrid year, slumping to fourth in the constructors' championship after coming within 14 points of topping the standings in 2024.

But soon after the season finale, all attention will have turned to the campaign ahead, with the British driver enjoying little downtime over the festive period.

"But next week, I'll already be in the sim working, and obviously we're doing the test, which is on next season's tyres and training probably will be before Christmas," Hamilton added.

"The break is the shortest that we've ever had. So, yeah, not gonna be really much recovery time from the season."