Lewis Hamilton started the 2026 Formula 1 season in a quite different way from the 2025 journey. However, for Ralf Schumacher, there are deeper reasons for the seven-time champion’s resurgence this year.
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In the last championship, in his first with Ferrari, the Briton suffered from the car’s lack of competitiveness. In the end, he finished without any podiums, something unprecedented in his Formula 1 career.
However, in 2026, with the regulation change, the Maranello team seems to be back on track. After three rounds, Lewis has already been on the podium in China and finished in the points on every occasion, praising being able to drive closer to his opponents – but Schumacher believes there is more behind the driver’s improved form.
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“Actually, I am of the opinion — and this will probably attract a lot of criticism again, but I don’t care — that Hamilton has a contract that gives him exactly that freedom [on track]. I am very happy that he is clearly back in the fight this year,” he said.
“I imagine that not even Fred Vasseur has decision-making power over this, even if he wanted to. Hamilton can probably decide for himself what to do. He will probably have some kind of number one driver status, I think. This means that Ferrari has no way to control it; he decides for himself. But this naturally has an impact within the team,” he added.
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