EXPLAINED: Why did Lewis Hamilton stop on track during Ferrari SF-26 shakedown

Ferrari unveiled their 2026 F1 challenger throughout a shakedown in Italy this morning however followers have all been involved following a sudden on observe stoppage.

The Italian outfit marked their reveal with an on observe debut for the SF-26 on observe with Lewis Hamilton first behind the wheel in Fiorano.

Following a disappointing 2025 marketing campaign that noticed Ferrari scoring zero wins, the staff shall be trying to compete on the entrance as soon as once more this yr.

Lewis Hamilton, who notably struggled all through his debut season with the Scuderia, will even be searching for a serious step ahead on his final season which noticed him fail to attain a podium in any of the 24 Grand Prix.

Hamilton was given the honour of taking out the SF-26 for its first ever laps throughout a moist working in Fiorano, however followers had been left scratching their heads when footage emerged of him immediately stopping the automobile on observe through the demonstration.

What triggered Lewis Hamilton to cease on observe?

Whereas the occasion was not broadcast to the general public, media and quite a few followers had been in attendance which resulted in video footage rising of Hamilton stopping the automobile on observe on-line.

Footage additionally circulated on social media displaying mechanics working on observe to then retrieve the automobile and return it to the storage.

This naturally triggered numerous hypothesis on-line that Ferrari’s new automobile had already run into points throughout its very first run.

Ferrari moved rapidly to close down the quite a few claims circulating nonetheless with the staff explaining that the automobile had not been stopped as a result of a mechanical situation.

As a substitute Hamilton had been advised to cease on function as a result of a limitation on the quantity of working the staff was permitted to hold out.

As this was a demo occasion purely to shake down the automobile, solely 15kms of working are permitted.

Ferrari defined that Hamilton accomplished two and a half laps and was instructed to cease the automobile to then enable teammate Charles Leclerc to drive the automobile for 2 and a half laps in accordance with the restrict.