Hamilton's Resurgence: Former Champion Mansell Weighs In

Former Formula 1 world champion Nigel Mansell believes Lewis Hamilton has regained his competitive edge this season. Hamilton recently ended a 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 been consistently closer to his teammate Charles Leclerc in terms of pace, a significant improvement from his struggles with the previous generation of F1 cars. Mansell attributes Hamilton's resurgence to the new regulations, which seem to complement his driving style, and suggests that the seven-time world champion may even win a race this season. "Lewis is fired up again, and it's fantastic to see," Mansell told Sky Sports News. Hamilton has also spoken about his improved preparation, both mentally and physically, which has contributed to his return to form. He noted that when he joined Ferrari last year, the car was not tailored to his driving style, and certain modifications he requested could not be made due to budget constraints. However, with the new car this year, Hamilton feels that his input has been incorporated, and he is grateful that the team listened to his suggestions. Meanwhile, Mansell thinks that George Russell needs to utilize his experience to win the intra-team battle against Kimi Antonelli, who currently leads Russell by nine points after back-to-back wins in China and Japan. The former champion emphasized the importance of focus and authority in the competitive world of F1, citing his own experiences from the 1992 season.