It’s no overstatement to say 2025 was Lewis Hamilton’s annus horribilis, with the seven-time world champion’s blockbuster transfer to not precisely going the way in which he had imagined. Amid struggles with a difficult-to-drive SF-25, a pole-to-flag win within the Chinese language Grand Prix dash turned out to be a false daybreak as he went on to document his first-ever marketing campaign with out a grand prix podium in his 18-year profession. With the dreaded ground-effect automobiles now within the rearview mirror, can Hamilton bounce again?
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Jake Boxall-Legge – Leclerc could be a little bit too robust to beat
There was a disconnect between and the character of the 2022-25 machines, one which continued to persist together with his transfer to Ferrari. The transfer to Maranello from was way more fraught than anticipated, and the dearth of a constant entourage arguably compounded the difficulties that the seven-time world champion confronted behind the wheel of final yr’s SF-25.
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The brand new automotive, nevertheless, seems to be quick. Though Hamilton is much less enthused by the power administration aspect of the 2026 method, he is famous that the brand new automobiles – from a mechanical standpoint – are way more enjoyable to drive. And if he is engaged and cozy together with his newest chariot, the elements are there for a a lot brighter second yr at Ferrari. That stated, could be a little bit too robust to beat frequently.
Stuart Codling – Instability underneath braking will damage Hamilton
Time was once I would unquestioningly have backed Lewis Hamilton to win a world championship in any moderately good automotive. However that was then and this, indubitably, is now.
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Though the circumstances of testing made it tough to get a correct measure of automotive efficiency by way of all of the video games of smoke and mirrors, Ferrari’s technical package deal appears promising. Of the 2 drivers, although, it appears Leclerc is the extra motivated and up for the problem of maximising automotive efficiency underneath the brand new laws, whereas Lewis has remained comparatively adverse.
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Additionally, Lewis likes a secure automotive underneath braking, and this isn’t what he’s going to get with the flighty 2026 machines, together with the not-always-predictable results of the electrical motor harvesting underneath deceleration. Disgrace, however the method continues to maneuver away from his talent set.
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Filip Cleeren – It is now or by no means for Hamilton’s Ferrari gamble
There is no hiding from the actual fact Ferrari has been considerably of a graveyard for world champions, simply ask and . Hamilton was the newest ace for whom the Scuderia’s attract was too exhausting to withstand. It was fairly gut-wrenching to see how an anticlimactic first season with Hamilton broke his spirits, however I’ve additionally seen few drivers with Hamilton’s outstanding potential to recharge his batteries, wipe the slate clear and go once more.
Recharging his batteries is one thing Hamilton must do fairly quite a lot of with these automobiles, however all indications level to him getting on a lot better with the 2026 era of equipment. Will Hamilton rediscovering his mojo be sufficient to beat a formidably quick Charles Leclerc over a complete season? I’m not satisfied, however not less than the pre-season kind desk suggests the 41-year-old will get an opportunity so as to add to his successes as an alternative of seeing his storied profession exit with a whimper.
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Study extra about Lewis Hamilton and his highway to F1 by way of his .
How our ranking system works
To set the drivers aside, we now have taken inspiration from the official F1 recreation to attribute scores in 4 completely different classes, out of a most of 100.
Expertise (EXP): An goal rating merely based mostly on the driving force’s expertise degree by way of whole race begins Racecraft (RAC): The driving force’s potential to race wheel to wheel, both to defend a place or pull off a decisive overtake, with out touchdown themselves in bother with the stewards Consistency (CON): The driving force’s potential to maintain clear, keep away from unforced errors whereas being persistently fast in a race Tempo (PAC): Displays a driver’s tempo over one lap, largely in relation to their team-mate General Score (OVR): The 4 above classes can be mixed into an total ranking, weighted in direction of Tempo.
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