Former world champion Nigel Mansell has praised Lewis Hamilton for showing a fresh burst of enthusiasm this season, describing the seven‑time champion as "reinvigorated" and eager to compete again at the highest level. Hamilton broke a 16‑month stretch without a podium finish by securing third place at the Chinese Grand Prix, marking his first top‑three result since he moved to Ferrari in 2025. At 41, Hamilton appears to be narrowing the performance gap with his teammate Charles Leclerc, a stark contrast to the difficulties he faced last year with the older specification car.
The new technical regulations introduced for this campaign seem to complement Hamilton's driving style, and Mansell stopped short of dismissing the possibility that the veteran could claim a victory before the season ends. "Lewis is fired up again. He has enjoyed an extraordinary career, and it’s wonderful to see him back in form," the 1992 champion told Sky Sports News.
"He’s genuinely reinvigorated. Ferrari have done a superb job over the winter, bringing the car into a competitive position. Mercedes remain the benchmark, and McLaren are rapidly closing the gap as well." Hamilton himself has spoken about the mental and physical preparation that helped spark his resurgence. After the Japanese Grand Prix, he said he had "prepared my mind and body better than ever," a disciplined approach he believes has been crucial to his recent performances.
He also reflected on his first year at Ferrari, noting that the car he inherited was essentially an evolution of the previous model and did not suit his style. "When I joined Ferrari last year, I had nothing to do with the development of that car. It was an evolution of the previous year’s machine, and it simply wasn’t built for me," he explained.
"There were components I wanted – such as a more refined suspension – but the budget cap prevented us from fitting them in during the season." Hamilton added that the team chose to forego extensive in‑season development on the older car in order to focus resources on the new 2026 specification. "It was a very tough year. We didn’t develop the car throughout the season because we decided to concentrate on next year’s project.
I spent a lot of time in the simulator, learning and working closely with the engineers," he said. "I kept pushing for the changes I believed were essential, and finally, with the new car, we got a clean slate. Some of the ideas I advocated for were incorporated, and both Charles and I tested them and loved the result." Mansell, who fought several title battles in the 1980s before clinching his own championship in 1992, also weighed in on the broader championship picture. He suggested that this year could evolve into a two‑horse contest if Mercedes manage to preserve or extend their advantage over the rest of the grid.
In that scenario, George Russell and the young Italian Kimi Antonelli could find themselves in a tight duel for the title. Antonelli currently leads Russell by nine points after back‑to‑back wins in China and Japan, and Mansell believes Russell’s experience will be vital in the intra‑team struggle. "George is a fantastic driver. Sometimes luck plays a role, sometimes the chips fall one way or another, but over a long season you need relentless focus to stay ahead," Mansell said.
He recalled a memorable episode from his own career, when teammate Riccardo Patrese in 1992 believed Mansell had a particularly strong car. After swapping qualifying cars at São Paulo, Mansell proved the point by being markedly quicker in Patrese’s machine, prompting team boss Frank Williams and technical director Patrick Head to acknowledge the performance disparity.
Mansell concluded by highlighting the excitement surrounding the emerging talent in the sport. "Kimi has done an outstanding job. He’s still very young, and everyone is rooting for him. It’s going to be thrilling to watch how the season unfolds," he remarked.
Formula 1 will return on May 1‑3 for the Miami Grand Prix, which also hosts the second Sprint weekend of the year. The event will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming options available through NOW without a long‑term contract. Fans can stay updated via Sky Sports’ WhatsApp channel for the latest news, videos, analysis, and more.