Jolyon Palmer has suggested that the handling characteristics of Ferrari’s SF-26 at the 2026 Australian Grand Prix have allowed Lewis Hamilton to be his “most competitive” when compared directly to his Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc. The Briton’s performance in Melbourne, according to Palmer, signals a return to form on a circuit and with a car that suits him well.
Lewis Hamilton joined Charles Leclerc at Scuderia Ferrari in 2025, a season the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion later described as his “worst season ever.” During that campaign, Hamilton scored just 156 points, finishing fifth in the F1 drivers’ standings, while Charles Leclerc accumulated 242 points to secure sixth place. Despite the numerical gap, the dynamic between the two Ferrari teammates continues to be a focal point for analysts as the team adapts to the new 2026 regulations.
Jolyon Palmer praises SF-26 for responding to Lewis Hamilton’s driving style in Melbourne
During the first practice session of the 2026 F1 season at Albert Park, Charles Leclerc initially topped the timesheets, leading a Ferrari one-two with Lewis Hamilton. However, in FP2, Hamilton pushed back, finishing P4 and P5, only 0.321s and 0.562s off the pace of Oscar Piastri, who claimed P1. Palmer highlighted Hamilton’s performance during FP2 as the most competitive he has shown since joining Ferrari, noting that the SF-26’s balance and the characteristics of the Australian track appeared to suit the seven-time champion.
Speaking on F1TV, Jolyon Palmer explained that Hamilton looked “comfortable” in the Ferrari cockpit. He emphasized that, in the head-to-head comparison with Charles Leclerc, Hamilton appeared more capable and competitive than at any point during 2025. Palmer attributed this to the car clearly responding to the Briton’s inputs and preferences, combined with Albert Park being a circuit that plays to the Briton’s strengths. “In that relative battle between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, driving the same car, this is the most competitive I’ve seen Lewis for a long time – at a circuit he likes, and with a car that is clearly responding to what he’s wanting,” Palmer observed.
Hamilton and Leclerc eye early 2026 momentum without repeating Ferrari’s 2022 pattern
Lewis Hamilton has a storied but selective history at the Australian Grand Prix, having won twice in his previous 17 appearances – for McLaren in 2008 and Mercedes in 2015. Both of those victories came during seasons in which Hamilton ultimately claimed the world title. The Australian GP was not held in 2020 or 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, leaving a gap in his record at Albert Park.
Charles Leclerc, meanwhile, is a former Australian GP winner himself, having triumphed for Ferrari in 2022 when the team briefly appeared to have a title-contending car during the early ground-effect era. Carlos Sainz also won at Albert Park for Ferrari in 2024, contributing to the Scuderia’s 11 victories at the circuit over the years.
Both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will hope their promising pace under the new 2026 regulations translates into results this Sunday. However, Ferrari’s history at the start of seasons – most notably in 2022 – serves as a cautionary tale. Despite winning the Australian GP that year, The Monegasque’s team eventually faded, with the Monegasque driver leading the standings early but Max Verstappen ultimately securing the championship by a substantial margin. The Scuderia will be eager to avoid a repeat scenario and build a consistent challenge throughout the 2026 season.
With Melbourne presenting the first real test of the SF-26 under race conditions, Jolyon Palmer believes Lewis Hamilton has shown the car and track combination that enables him to extract maximum performance, making him a credible threat alongside Charles Leclerc. If Ferrari can sustain this competitiveness, the Briton could finally convert early-season promise into tangible success, while keeping pace with his teammate in both qualifying and race trim.
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