Lewis Hamilton arrived in 2026 looking like someone who had decided to stop arguing with the noise. The early signs are loud and clear: a podium in Shanghai and a confident showing in Melbourne suggest the seven-time world champion has found his groove again.

From being written off to proving a point

Last year was rough for Hamilton at Ferrari. Critics lined up after a disappointing first season in red, with some even saying he should step away. His on-track struggles included three straight Q1 exits late in the year and a blunt remark at the Hungarian Grand Prix about Ferrari needing a new driver. That fed the narrative that he was past his peak.

Part of the problem was technical. Hamilton has been more comfortable with cars that allow aggressive, late braking and sharp turn-in. The recent ground-effect machines asked for a different, gentler approach. Add to that the fact he had not helped develop the SF-25, and it became easy for people to decide he was no longer the driver they remembered.

What changed for 2026

Fast forward to the start of the new season and things look different. The 2026 cars suit Hamilton’s style better, and he has clearly reset his mindset. After pre-season testing he posted that he was "re-set and refreshed" and that he was not going anywhere. That was not empty talk.

He followed that up on the Australian media day: "I kind of lost sight for a second of who I was, and that person’s gone, so you won’t see that person again." His body language, on and off track, now matches those words — calmer, freer, more confident.

Work and mindset

Hamilton did a lot of heavy lifting in the off-season. He says his winter training was the most intense he has ever done and that rediscovering himself was a key part of the process. He has been working closely with a trainer since Christmas, and he credits that preparation with helping him recover and perform better during race weekends.

He admits this takes more effort now that he is older, and he is realistic about recovery and the need for smarter training. The payoff has been visible already.

Team fit and engineering

Another important change is how embedded he now feels in Maranello. After a tense pairing with his previous engineer, the relationship with interim race engineer Carlo Santi looks healthier. Hamilton says time at the factory and clearer communication with engineers gave morale a boost.

He also played a role in developing aspects of the car this winter, pushing for changes he wanted after not being involved last year. That collaboration has made him feel more united with the team and more confident that the car can return stronger results.

Racing is fun again

Not everyone likes the new regulations. Some drivers have been openly critical and say they miss the way things used to be. Hamilton is not one of them. He has described this season as the most entertaining racing he has experienced in Formula 1, and his smile in the media pen suggests he is having fun.

With one podium already in the bag and a performance that looks closer to the Hamilton who dominated the sport, the target is clear: a first victory for Ferrari and win number 106. He says that felt out of reach last year, but now it is "more in sight than ever before."

It is early in a long season, but the message is simple and direct: Hamilton is back to a level where he believes he can still improve, and he is not interested in letting critics set the story for him.