According to former Formula 1 driver Johnny Herbert, Lewis Hamilton’s speed has not disappeared, and the seven-time world champion could adapt quickly and even benefit from the radically new 2026 cars.
All eyes on Lewis Hamilton
Until just a few weeks ago, during one of his most visible public moments of frustration, Lewis Hamilton told journalists that he was not particularly eager to get started with the new season. Whether the seven-time world champion has now changed his mindset after recharging his batteries during the short winter break remains to be seen.
What is certain is that, according to many observers, the end of the ground-effect era in Formula 1 – a generation of cars that caused him significant difficulties – is, on paper, good news for the Ferrari garage star. Hamilton is heading into a 2026 season that promises to be very different from the difficult and disappointing championship that has just concluded.
Sir Lewis’ advantage, according to Johnny Herbert
For Johnny Herbert, speaking to JeffBet, the initial signs are nevertheless encouraging: “Lewis Hamilton will need a positive start in 2026 to stop people thinking that this could be his final season. These cars can suit certain drivers and bring them back into contention. I think Lewis could be one of those who benefit from the new regulations.
“The motivation is there, because if it wasn’t, he wouldn’t be on the grid. I also remember that other champions, like Ayrton Senna, used to go away during the winter to recharge and come back more motivated than ever. That is what Lewis needs to do this year.”
Of course, there is also the Ferrari factor to consider. No matter how exceptional a driver may be, victories are impossible without a car capable of fighting at the front of the grid.
“It’s up to Ferrari to provide the right car to compete, and for the drivers to adapt to the new changes,” Herbert continued. “The greats of Formula 1 are able to adapt to new cars. This is an opportunity for him to start from scratch at Ferrari and become a real threat.
“Speed and driving skill never disappear; they will always be an integral part of drivers like Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso. If they have the driving ability, the right car and the motivation, both of them can fight for the championship.”
Johnny Herbert’s analysis highlights a prevailing theory in the paddock: that the 2026 technical reset serves as a “reset button” for Lewis Hamilton’s career after a difficult final chapter with Mercedes. By drawing parallels to Ayrton Senna’s legendary ability to recharge, Herbert suggests that Hamilton’s experience, combined with a car that moves away from the finicky ground-effect characteristics of the 2022-2025 era, could reignite the seven-time champion’s winning form. If the SF-26 provides a stable platform, the battle between Hamilton and Leclerc might not just be a fight for internal supremacy, but a genuine challenge for the 2026 World Championship.
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