Lewis Hamilton started the 2026 Formula 1 season with signs of recovery at Ferrari, but not everyone is convinced that the Briton’s recent performance represents a definitive turnaround. Former Scuderia driver Eddie Irvine stated that he does not take it for granted that the Briton’s podium in China is proof of a consistent return to competitiveness.
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The seven-time F1 champion achieved his first podium with Ferrari at the Chinese GP, a result that came one year after his first Sprint race victory for the team at the same track. After a difficult 2025 season, Hamilton showed progress with the new technical regulations and started the championship with a more competitive performance.
At the Australian GP, Hamilton finished in fourth place, coming close to the podium and behind teammate Charles Leclerc. In China, he got the better of the Monegasque in a direct battle and secured third place. However, at the Japanese GP, Leclerc stood out again and finished third, while Hamilton was only in sixth position.
This more discreet performance in Japan is precisely the point raised by Irvine to call for caution. The former Ferrari driver, who raced for the team between 1996 and 1999, believes it is still too early to talk about a definitive recovery for the Briton: “It’s always very complicated for the red team,” Irvine said in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport. “Compared to last year, however, I think they can achieve at least one victory.”
Even so, the former Irish driver does not see the podium in China as a clear indicator of progress: “I wouldn’t take it for granted. In China, he stood on the podium for the first time with Ferrari, but that is his circuit. In Japan, however, he was outperformed by Charles Leclerc throughout the weekend,” he stated.
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After the Japanese race, Hamilton himself admitted he had difficulties and suggested performance issues: “It was okay, it was a pretty average weekend for me. I just struggled with power in the race for some reason, I was at a disadvantage. I was defending the whole time,” he said.
Hamilton also highlighted that he needed to understand the reason for the difference: “The guys around me seemed to have more power today, so I need to understand why that happened, if my power unit was down or something. I need to understand,” he added.
With fourth, third, and sixth places in the first three races, Hamilton had his best start to a season since 2023, when he was still driving for Mercedes. In 2025, his first year at Ferrari, he needed four rounds to break into the top five, showing that, despite the doubts, the start of 2026 represents progress.
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