Lewis Hamilton Rejuvenated at Ferrari as He Targets Japanese GP Success After China Podium

Posted : 24 March 2026

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton believes he is back to his best following a landmark third-place finish at the Chinese Grand Prix. This result marked his first podium since joining Ferrari and ended a difficult 16-month drought without a top-three finish. The British driver now heads to Suzuka for the Japanese Grand Prix with significant momentum, currently enjoying his most successful opening to a season since his 2021 title battle with Mercedes.

Hamilton’s resurgence follows a statistically disappointing 2025 campaign where he often struggled to match the qualifying pace of teammate Charles Leclerc. However, the 41-year-old revealed that a mental "unplugging" during the winter break and a grueling training camp starting on Christmas Day have revitalized his performance. He noted that while recovery takes longer at his age, he has adopted new physical tools and benefited from a fresh engineering setup within the Maranello-based squad.

The shift in performance is also attributed to the 2026 technical regulations. The new cars are narrower and lighter, moving away from the ground-effect era that Hamilton previously admitted did not suit his driving style. Racing experts have noted that Hamilton appears much more comfortable with the car’s feedback, particularly in wheel-to-wheel combat. Hamilton himself described his recent battle with Leclerc in Shanghai as some of the best racing he has ever experienced in the sport.

Despite the optimism, a significant gap remains between Ferrari and the early championship leaders, Mercedes. The Silver Arrows secured consecutive one-two finishes in Australia and China, maintaining a pace advantage of approximately 0.5 seconds per lap over the field. Hamilton acknowledged that while a race victory is now "in sight," Ferrari needs substantial upgrades in downforce and power efficiency to consistently challenge his former team for the top step of the podium.

The Scuderia currently sits second in the constructors' standings, with Hamilton and Leclerc closely matched in points. As the paddock arrives in Japan, the focus remains on whether Ferrari can translate their improved race trim into a genuine threat against the dominant Mercedes duo of George Russell and Kimi Antonelli. Hamilton remains confident that the team’s development direction is finally aligned with his specific requirements for the car's handling.

Lewis Hamilton Rejuvenated at Ferrari as He Targets Japanese GP Success After China Podium

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