Martin Brundle reckons Lewis Hamilton is set for a much better 2026 season with Ferrari, and it all comes down to one thing – the seven-time world champion seems genuinely happier.
“A happy Lewis has always been, and not just at Ferrari, a fast Lewis,” Brundle told Sky Sports F1.
The former driver and pundit is backing Hamilton to bounce back after a tough 2025 campaign that saw him fail to reach the podium in any grand prix.
His sole highlight came with a sprint race win in China – notably when Ferrari were properly competitive with their rivals.
Martin Brundle has backed Lewis Hamilton for a better year
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Ferrari’s winter testing programme left Brundle thoroughly impressed, and it’s easy to see why.
The Scuderia brought some genuinely creative ideas to Bahrain, including a clever exhaust wing design that channels hot gases upwards to boost downforce.
“Isn’t it nice to see Ferrari with that confidence, and they just generally looked very good, didn’t they, through the test?” Brundle said.
Charles Leclerc posted the quickest lap of the entire winter, finishing a whopping eight-tenths clear of everyone else.
Most paddock observers now place Ferrari among the top two or three teams heading into Melbourne, with a title challenge looking entirely possible.
Many are tipping Lewis Hamilton for a potential title run this year
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But here’s the challenge Hamilton faces – he absolutely must get the better of his teammate.
Leclerc didn’t just edge Hamilton last year; he comprehensively outperformed him, coming out on top in 18 of the 21 races where both drivers crossed the finish line.
“He’s got to beat Charles Leclerc in the other Ferrari because he’s right on it as well,” Brundle warned.
The Monegasque driver proved himself utterly formidable throughout 2025, and any genuine championship bid from Hamilton will require him to turn those numbers around dramatically.
It won’t be straightforward, but Brundle believes the foundations are there for a proper comeback.
Ferrari had a nightmare year last year but have put all the efforts into this year
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Sky Sports colleague Craig Slater pointed to the sheer graft Hamilton has put in over the past twelve months, building connections within the team and shaping the 2026 machine.
“He said that ‘I’ve put my DNA in this car’,” Slater noted, contrasting it with last year when Hamilton constantly referenced being new and needing time to adjust.
Brundle acknowledged the mouth-watering prospect of Hamilton fighting for an eighth world title at 41 years old.
Lewis Hamilton last won a championship in 2020 | Getty
“Lewis transcends Formula 1 like no other driver, in my view, has before or does now,” he said, though he cautioned that plenty of hungry young drivers stand in his way.
