Hamilton's Revival: Mansell Sees a Rejuvenated Champion

Former Formula 1 world champion Nigel Mansell believes Lewis Hamilton has regained his spark this season. Hamilton recently ended a 16-month podium drought with a third-place finish at the Chinese Grand Prix, his first top-three finish since joining Ferrari in 2025. The 41-year-old has been more competitive with his teammate Charles Leclerc, thanks to the new regulations that seem to favor his driving style. Mansell thinks Hamilton could win a race this season, saying, "Lewis is fired up again. He's had a brilliant career, and it's fantastic what he's doing." Hamilton attributes his resurgence to better preparation and the new car, which he had a hand in developing. He said, "When I joined Ferrari last year, I had nothing to do with any of the build on that car... It was a car not really built for me and generally didn't suit my driving style." This year's car is a "completely new start" for Hamilton, who worked with engineers to incorporate changes he requested. Mansell, a 1992 F1 world champion, knows a thing or two about intense title fights, having battled Nelson Piquet in the 1980s. He thinks this year's championship could be a two-horse race between Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, with Antonelli currently leading by nine points. Mansell advises Russell to use his experience to win the intra-team battle, saying, "George is a great driver... You've got to lead by incredible focus." The Formula 1 season resumes on May 1-3 with the Miami Grand Prix, live on Sky Sports F1.