From Lewis Hamilton’s 2026 revival at Ferrari to FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s obvious plans to abolish time period limits, right here is your newest GPblog F1 Paddock Replace offered by Jim Kimberley and Ben Hunt.
After scoring P2 in Montreal, his best-ever end for Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton expressed delight at being again among the many high spots after what was a torrid debut yr with the Scuderia, when the Briton grew to become the primary driver in 44 years to go a full season with out scoring a podium in purple.
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Nevertheless it has not taken lengthy upon 2026’s restart for Hamilton to place that undesirable file up to now. The seven-time world champion secured his first Ferrari podium in Shanghai in March earlier than going one higher in Canada after a powerful late overtake on Crimson Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Photograph: Race Photos
Photograph: Race Photos
There should be a lot of the reason why Hamilton has turned his Ferrari fortunes round in 2026 – a swap from the earlier period of ground-effect automobiles, which Hamilton’s driving model was by no means in a position to gel with, to the snappier, smaller SF-26, which has additionally had extra of his personal enter, has confirmed to be a key one.
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One other has come within the Briton’s surroundings, with Hamilton notably praising his new race engineer Carlo Santi after the Canadian GP. Santi was introduced in to switch Riccardo Adami following a tough 2025 marketing campaign, and whereas that originally appeared like a short lived alternative, there seems little cause to alter issues given
He stated: “I selected a distinct set-up this weekend by simply ciphering by the information, working rather well with my engineer. He’s completely superior and I’m actually loving working with him. And my quantity two did a incredible job this weekend and helped me actually pull extra efficiency out of the automotive, getting right into a a lot sweeter place.
“And I used to be in a position to assault all of the corners lastly. And as I stated, there’s plenty of modifications that I’ve needed to ask for, and Fred [Vasseur’s] been tremendous supportive and once more additionally shifting mountains so as to make me comfy. It’s lastly beginning to present in my efficiency. So, thanks to the group.”
Elsewhere, GPblog understands that FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem is hoping to do away with for an FIA president on June 26 in Macau, in the course of the governing physique’s Normal Meeting.
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GPblog additionally reported that Ben Sulayem’s proposal is predicted to undergo, as he has ample assist, notably from the smaller member organizations. The Emirati was re-elected as president on the finish of 2025 after succeeding Jean Todt in 2021.
Ought to the proposal be permitted, Ben Sulayem would be capable to proceed as FIA President past the present 12-year restrict. On the newest F1 Paddock Replace, Kimberley and Hunt talk about the ins and outs of the proposal, and what it might imply for the way forward for F1.
Elsewhere on the newest episode, the hosts talk about Gucci’s upcoming enterprise into F1 as Alpine’s new title sponsor, whereas additionally elevating the thought of the Brazil GP returning as the game’s season finale.
