Eddie Irvine explains why Lewis Hamilton can not but be thought-about absolutely again to his greatest
Former Ferrari driver Eddie Irvine has expressed warning in declaring that Lewis Hamilton has returned to peak type, regardless of the seven-time world champion securing a podium for Ferrari in China. Irvine argued that Hamilton’s efficiency in Japan, the place teammate Charles Leclerc clearly outperformed him, signifies that the Briton nonetheless has work to do to reclaim his earlier dominance.
The Briton achieved his first podium as a Ferrari driver on the Chinese language Grand Prix, ending third after 26 races within the purple automotive. This milestone ended the longest podium drought of his Formulation 1 profession, as he had not completed within the prime three within the earlier 27 races. The achievement steered that Lewis Hamilton was adapting nicely to his new staff and discovering aggressive rhythm underneath the 2026 rules.
Nevertheless, the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka provided a really totally different narrative. Hamilton struggled all through the weekend and in the end completed sixth, marking his worst results of the 2026 season to date. Leclerc, in distinction, achieved his second podium of the yr with a third-place end, including to his P3 in Australia and P4 in China. Irvine believes that this efficiency by Leclerc rapidly tempered any notion that Hamilton had absolutely regained his earlier type.
Analyst Anthony Davidson had beforehand described Lewis Hamilton’s Chinese language GP efficiency as “completely at his greatest,” highlighting that the Ferrari driver had proven glimpses of difficult for race victories as soon as once more. But Irvine noticed that Leclerc’s constant tempo in Japan overshadowed Hamilton’s current resurgence. In keeping with Irvine, Leclerc outperformed Hamilton in each session throughout the Japanese weekend. In follow, Leclerc was sooner than Hamilton by 0.085s in FP1, 0.134s in FP2, and 0.154s in FP3. In qualifying, the Monegasque prolonged the hole by 0.394s in Q1, 0.286s in Q2, and 0.162s in Q3, establishing clear superiority throughout your complete weekend.
Irvine defined to Italian each day newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport that Lewis Hamilton’s podium in China shouldn’t be assumed as an indication of constant efficiency. He famous that whereas the Chinese language circuit suited Hamilton nicely, Suzuka uncovered challenges in adapting to the SF-26’s dealing with and highlighted Leclerc’s potential to extract most efficiency from the automotive. Irvine emphasised that Hamilton’s struggles to progress by way of the sector in Japan, significantly being held up behind McLaren’s Lando Norris, contrasted sharply with Leclerc’s potential to compete with eventual race winner Andrea Kimi Antonelli and get well positions, together with that of Oliver Bearman’s Haas. Hamilton’s sixth-place end underlined his difficulties, whereas Leclerc secured a stable P3.
Regardless of this, Leclerc’s podium in Japan maintained Ferrari’s streak of scoring podiums in every of the primary three races of the 2026 season. In the meantime, Mercedes drivers George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli have dominated qualifying and races to date, securing all pole positions, Dash victories, and Grand Prix wins within the season’s opening occasions.
Irvine additionally mentioned Ferrari’s broader prospects for the 2026 season. Whereas he believes that Ferrari has the potential to safe a minimum of one Grand Prix victory, he stays cautious about their total championship prospects. Ferrari haven’t received a Grand Prix since Carlos Sainz’s triumph in Mexico Metropolis in 2024, on the finish of his tenure with the staff earlier than Hamilton changed him in 2025. Irvine steered that whereas the staff’s competitiveness has improved, they’re unlikely to dominate a number of races this yr. He careworn that Ferrari nonetheless faces challenges because of the geographical distance from F1’s central hub in the UK and the continued growth hole with Mercedes.
Irvine concluded that profitable a race in 2026 is practical for Ferrari, however added that claiming a number of victories or a championship would stay extremely difficult. The Scuderia continues to chase its first drivers’ championship since Kimi Räikkönen’s 2007 title and its first constructors’ championship since 2008. Hamilton’s efficiency in Japan serves as a reminder that whereas he stays a formidable competitor, consistency on the prime degree shouldn’t be but assured, and Ferrari should proceed growth to mount a reputable problem for each titles this season.
Apr 4, 2026
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