Before the 2026 Formula 1 season even began, Martin Brundle believed Lewis Hamilton was on the verge of a major comeback with Ferrari. At the time, many questioned whether the seven-time world champion could still perform at the very highest level after a difficult first campaign in red. Nine Grands Prix later, however, the former F1 driver and Sky Sports commentator appears to have called the situation almost perfectly.
After enduring an inconsistent 2025 season filled with criticism, speculation and even rumours about a possible retirement, Lewis Hamilton entered the new regulatory era under enormous pressure. The arrival of Formula 1’s latest technical regulations represented a fresh opportunity not only for Ferrari, but also for the British driver to re-establish himself as a genuine championship contender.
So far, the signs suggest that both objectives are becoming reality.
Lewis Hamilton looked revitalised from the very beginning
Ferrari approached pre-season testing with one of the most ambitious technical packages on the grid. Determined to end a championship drought stretching back nearly two decades, the Maranello team introduced a series of innovative solutions across all three Bahrain test sessions, signalling its intention to become an immediate contender under the new regulations.
Martin Brundle quickly noticed something beyond the stopwatch. Watching Lewis Hamilton throughout testing, he sensed that the seven-time world champion appeared far more relaxed, confident and comfortable than he had during his difficult debut season with Ferrari.
Speaking after the final week of testing, Martin Brundle explained that Formula 1 always benefits when Ferrari is competitive and admitted he hoped the Briton would finally enjoy the success many expected when he joined the Italian team. He also pointed out that Lewis Hamilton has consistently delivered his best performances whenever he has been happy within his environment.
Martin Brundle further suggested that the new generation of Formula 1 cars could suit Lewis Hamilton’s strengths, particularly his ability to maximise the available technology and quickly adapt to changing technical requirements. At the same time, he acknowledged that beating Charles Leclerc would remain an enormous challenge, given the Monegasque driver’s exceptional speed and deep understanding of Ferrari.
Ferrari’s technical progress has transformed Lewis Hamilton’s season
The optimism surrounding Ferrari was not based solely on Lewis Hamilton’s body language. Martin Brundle also believed the Scuderia had made genuine progress over the winter, describing the team’s engineering direction as particularly innovative compared to previous seasons.
That assessment has since been reinforced by the Italian side’s performances on track. Continuous upgrades throughout the opening phase of the season have steadily improved the SF-26, allowing Lewis Hamilton to extract increasingly competitive performances and establish himself among the leading drivers in the championship battle.
Unlike the frustration that often characterised his media appearances in 2025, the seven-time world champion has displayed renewed confidence throughout the current campaign. His interviews have become noticeably more positive, reflecting the growing belief inside Ferrari that the project is moving firmly in the right direction.
Even during pre-season testing, Lewis Hamilton admitted that his confidence in Ferrari had grown significantly following the encouraging early signs shown by the new car. Those initial impressions have since been supported by results.
Results are backing up Martin Brundle’s forecast
Only nine rounds into the 2026 Formula 1 season, Lewis Hamilton has already rewarded the Maranello team’s faith with a Grand Prix victory, four additional podium finishes and third place in the Drivers’ Championship. More importantly, he has firmly reinserted himself into conversations about the title fight after many observers questioned whether his best years were already behind him.
While the battle with Charles Leclerc continues to intensify inside Ferrari, the seven-time world champion has shown that experience remains one of his greatest assets. His technical feedback has played an increasingly important role in the development of the SF-26, while his racecraft has once again become one of Ferrari’s strongest weapons on Grand Prix weekends.
There is still a long way to go before the championship is decided, but one conclusion already seems difficult to dispute. Martin Brundle’s belief that Lewis Hamilton would flourish under Formula 1’s new technical regulations has been fully justified, with Ferrari now looking stronger than it has for several seasons and its star signing once again performing at the level many expected when he first arrived in Maranello.
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