Lewis Hamilton praised an “amazing” amount of running after a productive morning for Ferrari on the fourth day of Formula 1’s pre-season shakedown at Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya.

After a difficult campaign last year in which Ferrari failed to win a race and slipped to fourth in the constructors’ standings, the team is aiming for a stronger showing in the new season. Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, also endured his first year without a podium finish, adding to Ferrari’s determination to bounce back.

With Formula 1 entering a new engine era and undergoing its biggest regulation overhaul in years, teams are adapting to unfamiliar conditions. While Mercedes have already appeared impressively reliable, Ferrari are hopeful that their early testing form signals improved competitiveness.

“When you come to testing, you always want to cover as much mileage as possible,” Hamilton told Formula One television on Thursday. “Today I did 85 laps in the morning, which is amazing.

“Last year we had a tougher start to testing. So, considering these are completely new regulations, this has been better than what we’ve experienced in the past. I’m really hopeful that continues.”

Teams are permitted to select three out of five days to run their new cars during the private Barcelona test, with Ferrari choosing to participate on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Thursday marked Hamilton’s first full dry running in the car, after rain disrupted Tuesday’s session when he and teammate Charles Leclerc were both on track. Hamilton completed his planned programme before handing over to Leclerc, saying he had gained a clearer understanding of the car’s strengths and areas for improvement.

“I’ve got a better sense of where the car is and where we need to improve,” Hamilton said.

Now in his second season with Ferrari following his move from Mercedes at the end of 2024, Hamilton is eager to help guide the team back to the front of the grid.

Formula 1 teams will take part in two official pre-season tests in Bahrain next month before the campaign begins with the Australian Grand Prix on March 8.