Lewis Hamilton: Nigel Mansell says Ferrari driver is 'reinvigorated' after early rounds of 2026 Formula 1 season
Former world champion Nigel Mansell says Lewis Hamilton is "fired up again" after a much stronger start to the 2026 season compared to last year; Formula 1 returns with a Sprint weekend in Miami on May 1-3, live on Sky Sports F1
Wednesday 15 April 2026 07:44, UK
Lewis Hamilton has been "reinvigorated" this season, according to former Formula 1 world champion Nigel Mansell.
Hamilton ended his 16-month drought without an F1 podium when he finished third at the Chinese Grand Prix, his maiden rostrum finish since joining Ferrari in 2025.
The 41-year-old also has also been much closer to team-mate Charles Leclerc on pace, having struggled throughout last year with the previous generation of F1 car.
- How to fill your racing fix on Sky Sports with no F1 in April
- F1 2026 Calendar | F1 2026 Standings | F1 Gossip Column
- Download the Sky Sports app for expert analysis, best video & more📱
- Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺
However, the new regulations for this year appear to suit Hamilton's driving style and Mansell did not rule out the seven-time world champion winning a race at some point this season.
"Lewis is fired up again. Lewis has had a brilliant career and it's fantastic what he's doing," the 1992 F1 world champion told Sky Sports News.
"He's now reinvigorated. Ferrari has done a fabulous job over the winter. They're there or thereabouts, Mercedes are the forerunners and McLaren is going to be there too."
Hamilton said at the last race in Japan that he "prepared my mind and body better than ever" which has contributed to his return to form.
"When I joined Ferrari last year, I had nothing to do with any of the build on that car. It was an evolution of the previous year's car, so I joined and it was a car not really built for me and generally didn't suit my driving style," he said.
"There were elements I was asking for which we couldn't put on in the season because it was too expensive, like suspension, to build within the budget cap.
"It was a really hard season. We didn't develop the car through the year because we decided to focus on this year's car. I got to work on the simulator, learn and engage with the engineers.
"There were things I was asking for like I said 'we really have to have this on the car next year'. And I pushed and pushed and pushed.
"We come to this year's car and it's a completely new start for everybody but we have a couple things I asked for, which I'm grateful that they listened to. Charles and I tested them and we both love it."
Mansell: Russell needs to stamp his authority at Mercedes
Mansell was involved in several title fights before he became world champion in 1992, including hard-fought duels against Nelson Piquet in the 1980s at Williams.
This year's F1 Drivers' Championship could become a two-horse race if Mercedes maintain, or extend, their advantage over the rest of the field, thus giving George Russell and Kimi Antonelli the chance to become world champion.
Antonelli leads Russell by nine points after back-to-back wins in China and Japan and Mansell thinks the British driver needs to use his experience to win the intra-team battle.
He said: "George is a great driver. Sometimes it's how the chips fall, sometimes you have a bit of luck, and sometimes you don't. It's a long season but you've got to lead by incredible focus.
"I'll never forget [my team-mate] Riccardo Patrese in 1992 thought I had a special car. We swapped qualifying cars at Sao Paulo early in the season and I got Sir Frank [Williams] and Patrick ]Head] to agree with that because I was two seconds lap quicker than him. Long story short, the first and second lap, I went out in his car, I was 1.5 seconds quicker, straight away in his car.
"The point is, you have to stamp the authority. Kimi has done a great job. He's young. Everyone's pulling for him, so it's going to be exciting to watch."
Formula 1 returns on May 1-3 with the Miami Grand Prix, the season's second Sprint weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime
