– Ex-Formula 1 driver and Sky expert Martin Brundle is convinced: Record champion Lewis Hamilton has not forgotten how to win and can triumph in the Ferrari. Hamilton moved to the Scuderia in Maranello for the 2025 season, but needed some time to adjust to his new team in the last year of the old regulations.
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While Ferrari only finished fourth in the 2025 Constructors’ Championship, the Italians made a significantly stronger appearance at the start of the 2026 season. The team currently ranks second in the team standings. In the Drivers’ World Championship, Hamilton and his teammate Charles Leclerc hold positions four and three.
After Hamilton’s dip in form in 2025 was critically questioned, Brundle sees a clear reason for the upswing: the new rules suit the Briton’s driving style much more than the previous ground-effect era.
Brundle: “Lewis enjoys these cars much more”
“Lewis visibly enjoys these cars more,” Brundle explains to Sky Sports F1. “Ferrari is more competitive and I think they will make a big step for Miami. Lewis obviously prefers this type of car to the ground-effect cars we had in previous years – those things hit the ground hard and were quite brutal to drive.”
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“That didn’t seem to suit his style,” Brundle continued. “But his demeanor and the way he approaches things – he just seems much happier because the Ferrari is more competitive.”
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But one thing is also clear: The path to the title leads through his teammate. “He has to beat Charles Leclerc in the other Ferrari if he wants to become world champion – and of course the others too,” emphasizes the expert. “Let’s wait and see if he can maintain this level. As soon as he smells victory, Lewis is still absolutely capable of taking it.”
2026 World Championship battle: Is everything still open?
Before the fourth race of the season, the Miami Grand Prix, Mercedes youngster Kimi Antonelli leads the standings with a nine-point advantage over his teammate George Russell. Although Mercedes has dominated the first three races, Brundle believes the title fight is far from decided.
“I think everything is completely open,” he says. “We have a sprint weekend in Miami, so there are points to be gained in both the sprint and the Grand Prix.”
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Brundle expects an intense development race: “It’s like ebb and flow. I see teams overtaking others through upgrades because these cars still offer so much potential. I would say any of the eight drivers from the top-4 teams can become world champion this year.”
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