Hamilton's Revitalized Season: A New Lease on Life

According to Nigel Mansell, a former Formula 1 world champion, Lewis Hamilton has regained his competitive edge this season. Hamilton recently ended his 16-month drought without an F1 podium by finishing third at the Chinese Grand Prix, marking his first rostrum finish since joining Ferrari in 2025. The 41-year-old has also been more competitive with his teammate Charles Leclerc in terms of pace, a significant improvement from last year when he struggled with the previous generation of F1 cars. Mansell believes the new regulations this year suit Hamilton's driving style and does not rule out the possibility of Hamilton winning a race this season. "Lewis has had an incredible career, and it's fantastic to see him performing well again. He's now reinvigorated, and Ferrari has done an excellent job over the winter," Mansell said. Hamilton attributes his return to form to better preparation, both mentally and physically. He noted that when he joined Ferrari last year, the car was not built with his driving style in mind, and there were elements he requested that could not be implemented due to budget constraints. However, this year's car is a new start for the team, and Hamilton is grateful that his requests were taken into consideration. Mansell, who was involved in several title fights before becoming world champion in 1992, thinks this year's F1 Drivers' Championship could be a two-horse race between Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. Mansell advises Russell to use his experience to win the intra-team battle, stating that "George is a great driver, but sometimes it's how the chips fall, and you've got to lead by incredible focus."