LEWIS HAMILTON FINALLY LOOKS COMFORTABLE AGAIN — AND THE F1 2026 GRID SHOULD BE CONCERNED
The last few seasons were frustrating at times. The cars didn’t always respond the way Lewis likes. Balance issues, heavy downforce dependency, and unpredictable handling characteristics often worked against his natural driving style. But the new era of Formula 1 may be changing that story.
After finishing fourth at the Australian Grand Prix, Lewis walked away from the opening race weekend of the F1 2026 season with genuine positives. The Ferrari looked competitive, the pace was there, and perhaps most importantly, Lewis looked far more comfortable behind the wheel. And according to former Formula 1 driver and veteran analyst Martin Brundle, the new generation of F1 cars could be exactly what Lewis needs.
A Promising Start To The F1 2026 Season
The Australian Grand Prix always brings uncertainty. New cars, new regulations, fresh expectations. It’s the moment when months of development finally meet the reality of a race weekend.
For Lewis, the start of the F1 2026 season delivered encouragement. He finished fourth in Melbourne, a solid result that reflected a strong performance across the entire weekend. While it wasn’t a podium, it was a result that showed Ferrari are firmly in the fight — and that Lewis is settling into the new era of Formula 1 with confidence.
One of the standout moments came right at the start of the race. Ferrari’s smaller turbo configuration gave both Lewis and Charles Leclerc impressive acceleration off the line. As the lights went out, the Ferrari pair launched brilliantly, immediately putting themselves into competitive positions on the opening lap.
Lewis moved forward quickly, demonstrating that Ferrari’s power unit package has clear strengths in the early phase of the race. For fans watching the start unfold, it was a reminder that Ferrari have built something genuinely competitive for the F1 2026 season.
Ferrari Showing Early Pace
One of the biggest talking points from the Australian Grand Prix weekend was Ferrari’s overall pace. Across practice sessions, qualifying, and race simulations, the Scuderia looked strong. While the final results don’t tell the full story yet, early indications suggest Ferrari may have a serious car in the fight this season.
The team already appears to have an edge over the reigning constructors’ champions McLaren in certain areas. However, it remains difficult to measure the true competitive order at this early stage of the F1 2026 championship.
Red Bull, for example, remain an unknown quantity after a dramatic weekend. Max Verstappen crashed during qualifying, preventing him from showing the true pace of the RB car, while rookie driver Isack Hadjar suffered an engine failure that ended his race prematurely. Because of that, the competitive picture remains slightly blurred.
But one thing was clear in Melbourne — Ferrari are right in the mix. And Lewis is adapting quickly.
A Car That Finally Suits Lewis
Perhaps the most important development for Lewis is how the Ferrari SF-26 behaves on track. Last year’s car never truly suited him. Throughout the season, onboard footage repeatedly showed Lewis fighting the steering wheel, constantly correcting the car through corners as the balance shifted underneath him.
It was a difficult car to drive consistently. This year feels different.
The SF-26 appears far more predictable, and Lewis looks more relaxed behind the wheel. His inputs are smoother. His confidence under braking is returning. And over the course of the Australian Grand Prix weekend, he appeared increasingly comfortable as he learned more about the car.
A change in race engineer may also be helping communication within the team. Better feedback loops between driver and pit wall can make a huge difference in modern Formula 1, especially with the complexity of today’s hybrid power units and energy management systems.
But beyond communication improvements, the biggest factor may simply be the new regulations themselves.
Martin Brundle Explains Why The New Cars Suit Lewis
Martin Brundle, one of Formula 1’s most respected analysts, believes the 2026 regulations are naturally suited to Lewis. The new generation of cars produces less downforce compared to the previous ground-effect era. That means drivers have to manage more movement from the car — something Lewis has historically handled extremely well.
Speaking on Sky Sports F1, Brundle shared his thoughts after it was suggested by Jenson Button that the new cars would suit Lewis far better than the previous generation.
“I think it will suit any driver that’s got enough mental capacity to cope with all that’s going on, and they’re looking at a lot that’s going on inside the cars as well now to maximise that.
“And Lewis, of course, you would put into that category. “Clearly, they’ve got a lot less downforce, and I think Lewis is always happy with a car that’s moving around a little bit. “So, yes, I do, I think he looks happier in himself, and he looks happier out on track.”
That observation matches what many fans noticed during the race weekend. Lewis looked relaxed again. And when Lewis feels comfortable in a Formula 1 car, history tells us he becomes incredibly difficult to beat.
Mental Strength And Technical Intelligence
Modern Formula 1 demands more from drivers than ever before. Energy management, software deployment strategies, hybrid system harvesting, tyre preservation, and real-time data analysis all play major roles in performance. Brundle’s comment about “mental capacity” highlights something that often goes unnoticed by casual viewers.
Drivers today must process huge amounts of information while racing at speeds exceeding 300 km/h. Lewis has always excelled in this area. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated exceptional awareness inside the cockpit. His ability to adapt race strategy on the fly, manage tyres, and maximise performance during changing conditions has been a defining characteristic of his success.
With the F1 2026 regulations introducing even more complexity through hybrid power deployment and energy recovery systems, that experience could become a major advantage.
A Different Narrative Around Lewis
Another interesting perspective came from former Formula 1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya. Montoya believes Lewis looks noticeably different compared to last season.
In 2025, much of the discussion after races centred on Lewis himself — analysing his performances, questioning the results, and examining whether he was still operating at the same level as earlier in his career. But in Melbourne, the narrative shifted.
Instead of focusing on Lewis’ driving, the spotlight turned toward Ferrari’s strategic decisions. That is a subtle but important change. When the conversation moves away from questioning the driver and toward analysing team strategy, it usually means the driver is delivering strong performances. And that appears to be the case here.
Ferrari’s Strategy Under The Microscope
Despite a strong race performance from Lewis, Ferrari’s strategy decisions attracted attention. During the race, a virtual safety car (VSC) created an opportunity for teams to pit with minimal time loss. Ferrari chose not to bring Lewis or Leclerc into the pits during that window — a decision that ultimately benefited Mercedes.
The Mercedes drivers capitalised on the opportunity and secured a one-two finish. Notably, it was the first Mercedes one-two finish that did not include Lewis since the 1950s. That statistic alone shows just how long Lewis was central to the team’s dominance.
Former McLaren mechanic and Formula 1 analyst Marc Priestley suggested Ferrari may have been fortunate that the strategy decision didn’t cost them more. According to Priestley, Ferrari may have “got away with” not pitting under the VSC — but the decision potentially cost Lewis a chance at his first podium since leaving Mercedes.
Even so, Lewis remained positive after the race.
Lewis Reflects On His First Race Of 2026
Following the Australian Grand Prix, Lewis spoke about his performance and the progress Ferrari made during the opening race weekend.
“I was happy with the performance for our first race of the season. There has been a lot of learning over the weekend, and we squeezed everything out of today and took absolutely all the performance that was on the table."
“From the first laps, I felt switched on and throughout the race, understanding more and more about the car and adjusting my inputs to get the most from it. There is still lots to learn and work to do, but it’s clear we’re in the fight. We’ll stay grounded, stay precise, and keep pushing to build on this.”
Those words perfectly capture the mindset of an experienced champion. There is optimism, but also realism. Lewis knows the season is long. One race does not define a championship. But the signs from Melbourne suggest Ferrari have built a competitive platform. And Lewis is already finding his rhythm.
The Bigger Picture For The F1 2026 Title Fight
The F1 2026 season is only just beginning, but the early indicators are fascinating. Ferrari appear competitive. Mercedes are strong. McLaren remain a threat. And Red Bull’s true pace is still unclear. In other words, the championship battle could be wide open.
For Lewis, that is exactly the kind of environment where experience becomes invaluable. He has fought for world championships across multiple eras of Formula 1. He has adapted to regulation changes, technical shifts, and evolving competition.
If the Ferrari SF-26 continues to suit his driving style, the ingredients for a serious title challenge could be there.
A Lewis Resurgence In The Making?
For longtime fans of Lewis, the most encouraging sign from the Australian Grand Prix was simple. He looked like himself again. The confidence under braking. The smooth steering inputs. The calm communication over the radio. The sense that he is once again working with the car rather than fighting it.
Formula 1 careers move in cycles. Drivers go through phases where the machinery doesn’t match their strengths. When the balance returns, performance often follows. The F1 2026 regulations may have created exactly that moment for Lewis.
If Martin Brundle’s analysis proves correct, and these lower-downforce cars genuinely suit his driving style, the rest of the grid may have something serious to worry about. Because when Lewis feels comfortable in a Formula 1 car, history tells us the results usually follow.
And if the opening race weekend in Melbourne is any indication, this season could be the start of something very interesting indeed. 🏁🔥
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