The early stages of the 2026 Formula 1 season have offered encouraging signs for Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari, and former world champion Damon Hill believes the seven-time champion finally looks like himself again. According to Damon Hill, it has been a long time since Lewis Hamilton appeared so relaxed and energized at a race weekend, something that became particularly evident during the Chinese Grand Prix weekend in Shanghai.
After a difficult period during the previous generation of ground-effect cars, Lewis Hamilton seems to have rediscovered confidence behind the wheel. The Ferrari driver has already produced results in just two race weekends that match his strongest performances from the entire 2025 season. In both qualifying and race pace, Lewis Hamilton has begun to demonstrate the speed and racecraft that made him one of the most successful drivers in Formula 1 history.
A strong start to the 2026 Formula 1 season
The numbers already suggest progress. Within the opening rounds of the championship, Lewis Hamilton has equaled his best qualifying position of 2025 by securing third place on the grid, while also matching his best race finish from that campaign with a fourth-place result. These early performances have also added a fascinating new dimension to Ferrari’s internal competition, where Charles Leclerc had clearly been the stronger performer during the previous season.
In 2025, Charles Leclerc comfortably finished ahead of Lewis Hamilton in the standings. However, the beginning of the 2026 campaign suggests that the battle between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton inside Ferrari could become one of the most compelling rivalries on the grid.
The Sprint Race at the Shanghai International Circuit provided a perfect example of that renewed competitiveness. At the start of the Sprint, Lewis Hamilton launched an aggressive challenge for the lead against George Russell, briefly putting himself at the center of the fight at the front of the field. Although Lewis Hamilton eventually slipped behind both George Russell and his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, the British driver still secured his first Sprint podium since the Miami Sprint in May of the previous year.
Damon Hill sees a confident Lewis Hamilton again
During the Channel 4 highlights program following Saturday’s action in China, Damon Hill reflected on the transformation he has observed in Lewis Hamilton. The 1996 Formula 1 world champion suggested that the Briton had emerged from what could be described as a difficult personal period during the previous season.
From Damon Hill’s perspective, the difference in body language and overall confidence was clear throughout the Shanghai weekend. Observers at the circuit reportedly noted that Lewis Hamilton appeared significantly more relaxed compared to his demeanor during much of the 2025 season.
Damon Hill believed that the struggles of recent years had weighed heavily on Lewis Hamilton, particularly during the early years of the current ground-effect regulation era. However, the 1996 Formula 1 world champion suggested that the latest generation of Formula 1 cars may now be better suited to Lewis Hamilton’s natural driving style.
In addition to that technical factor, Ferrari’s improving competitiveness has also played a crucial role. After finishing fourth in the Constructors’ Championship last season, Ferrari has started the new campaign looking like the closest challenger to Mercedes at several circuits.
Damon Hill explained that Lewis Hamilton appeared to have rediscovered enjoyment in racing, noting that the British driver seemed far happier than he had been for some time. Damon Hill suggested that giving Lewis Hamilton a competitive car naturally allowed the seven-time champion to return to the level of performance fans have come to expect.
A positive mindset makes Lewis Hamilton extremely dangerous
Another former world champion, Jacques Villeneuve, has also weighed in on the situation. The Canadian driver, who previously raced alongside Damon Hill earlier in his career, reportedly indicated that Lewis Hamilton becomes extremely difficult to beat when he is operating with confidence and a positive mindset.
That psychological aspect has always been a key factor in Lewis Hamilton’s success throughout his Formula 1 career. When the British driver feels comfortable with the car and motivated within the team environment, he has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to elevate his performance during crucial race moments.
David Coulthard praises Lewis Hamilton’s racing instincts
The Sprint Race in Shanghai also offered a reminder of Lewis Hamilton’s racecraft. One of the most talked-about moments came when the Briton overtook George Russell by diving down the inside at Turn Nine — a corner that is rarely used for overtaking.
Following the race, George Russell admitted that the move had caught him slightly off guard. Former Formula 1 driver and commentator David Coulthard highlighted the maneuver as an example of the creativity and instinct that has defined Lewis Hamilton’s racing style over the years.
From David Coulthard’s point of view, the overtake demonstrated how the seven-time F1 world champion continues to find unexpected opportunities during wheel-to-wheel battles, particularly when racing against drivers who know him well.
Ferrari benefits from the rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc
Within Ferrari, the growing rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc is also being viewed as a positive development. Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has expressed satisfaction at seeing both drivers push each other harder on track.
According to Fred Vasseur, the competitive relationship between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc could help Ferrari extract more performance from the car and generate valuable technical feedback for the engineering team. The Frenchman believes that similar internal rivalries have helped other teams improve rapidly.
Fred Vasseur reportedly pointed to McLaren as a recent example, where the close fight between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris has helped raise the overall performance level of the team. Ferrari hopes that the competitive dynamic between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc can produce a similar effect.
If the early signs of the 2026 season continue, Ferrari could benefit enormously from having two drivers capable of pushing each other to the limit. With Lewis Hamilton rediscovering confidence and Charles Leclerc continuing to deliver strong performances, the Scuderia may finally have the internal balance needed to challenge consistently at the front of the Formula 1 grid.
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