Hamilton's Revitalized Form: A New Chapter Unfolds

Former Formula 1 champion Nigel Mansell believes Lewis Hamilton has regained his competitive edge this season. Hamilton recently broke his 16-month podium drought with a third-place finish at the Chinese Grand Prix, marking his first rostrum finish since joining Ferrari in 2025. The 41-year-old has also narrowed the pace gap with teammate Charles Leclerc, a significant improvement from last year's struggles with the previous generation of F1 cars. Mansell attributes Hamilton's resurgence to the new regulations, which seem to suit his driving style, and doesn't rule out the possibility of Hamilton winning a race this season. "Lewis is fired up again, and it's fantastic to see him performing at this level," Mansell told Sky Sports News. Hamilton credits his improved form to better mental and physical preparation, which has allowed him to reconnect with the sport. When he joined Ferrari last year, Hamilton had limited input in the car's development, but this year's new regulations have given him a fresh start. He worked closely with the engineers, pushing for specific changes that have paid off. Mansell, who had his share of intense title battles, including against Nelson Piquet in the 1980s, thinks this year's championship could become a two-horse race between Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. With Antonelli leading Russell by nine points, Mansell advises Russell to leverage his experience to win the intra-team battle. The F1 season resumes on May 1-3 with the Miami Grand Prix, live on Sky Sports F1.