Ferrari legend: Lewis Hamilton can win title number eight if Maranello team delivers the right car. Nigel Mansell believes Lewis Hamilton can still win an eighth Formula 1 world title with Ferrari in 2026.

The ‘Lion’ has not ruled out the possibility of witnessing the #44 claim the Formula 1 World Championship at the end of what could be a “fantastic” season.

The nightmare of the first year

Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at Ferrari in 2025 appeared to mark a major turning point in the career of the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion, who had been coming off a difficult spell in Mercedes. Many believed that ‘Sir Lewis’ was ready to reignite his battle with Max Verstappen and return to the top of the world. Instead, last season turned into a genuine disaster: no victories and no podium finishes, accompanied by criticism of his performances that even sparked doubts about a potential retirement from Formula 1.

The ‘Lion’ insists

Now, as the 2026 championship approaches, the #44 seems to have found improved feeling with the new Ferrari SF-26. So much so that many Tifosi and former drivers do not rule out the possibility of seeing him return to the Formula 1 roll of honour, despite being 41 years old. One of them is 1992 World Champion Nigel Mansell, Lewis Hamilton’s fellow Brit and a Ferrari driver during the 1989-1990 seasons.

Interviewed by The Observer, the ‘Lion’ expressed his hope of seeing Hamilton back at his very best, despite last year’s predictions proving unsuccessful, when he had described Hamilton’s first Ferrari season as “monumental”. “I don’t want to put pressure on him, but I believe Lewis will have a fantastic year. He is 41 years old, he is strong as an ox and in outstanding shape. If Ferrari gives him the car he deserves, he can still do it and win that magical eighth world title. I don’t think it’s over yet.”

Watch out for the rivals

Nigel Mansell firmly believes in Lewis Hamilton’s chances, but at the same time he has not overlooked another British driver: reigning World Champion Lando Norris. “He is very young, he has the world at his feet,” he added. “He will improve, he will be more confident this year. He will have another half a second in his pocket when he wants to push. He is the World Champion, and when you wear that cloak it gives you an extra gear. You have made it; being World Champion is the most important thing you can achieve above anything else. I think 2026 will be a fantastic championship. Mercedes is the big favourite, McLaren is there and Ferrari is there, which is incredibly exciting.”

As the 2026 season approaches, the narrative surrounding Lewis Hamilton’s quest for an eighth title continues to captivate the F1 world. With the backing of legends like Mansell and a promising new technical era at Ferrari, the upcoming campaign could indeed be the “fantastic” spectacle the sport has been waiting for, proving that age is just a number when talent and the right machinery align.