The Chinese GP saw Lewis Hamilton claim his first podium for Ferrari, just over a year since his debut with the Scuderia. Hamilton’s result in Shanghai was facilitated by another encouraging weekend in the SF-26.
Since first stepping into these 2026 cars, Hamilton has been far more positive compared to last season.
Having spent most of 2025 at odds with his Ferrari package, the British driver is clearly more comfortable in the SF-26 – and this is translating into his output on track.
As with previous regulatory changes, these 2026 cars are dividing opinion and generating controversy. From Hamilton’s perspective, some of the criticisms made towards these regulations are unfounded.
Hamilton speaks about new regulations
There have been differences of opinion regarding these 2026 regulations. For the likes of Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz, these new machines are a backwards step from their predecessors.
Elsewhere on the grid, George Russell and Lewis Hamilton have been generally upbeat. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the drivers at the two fastest teams are the happiest with these cars.
Still, it would be reductionist to suggest that the Ferrari and Mercedes line-ups are only positive about these regulations because they are in the best packages.
Speaking to the media in Japan, Hamilton outlined what the 2026 challengers bring to the table:
“Obviously there’s lots of different views on this year’s generation of car. But I mean, for me, it’s just exciting that it’s a new era for the sport.
“I think every time it has been a new era it’s always been exciting to see where people come out. I’m proud of the team, the work we’ve done over the last year to get to this point and closer to the front and in the battle.
“Of course there’s bits that I don’t love. Like the deployment and the lift-and-coast, some things that we have to do… are not ideal.
“But racing-wise, it’s been really really fun. That race I had with Charles, just in the second race, was one of the most run races I’ve had.
“Other than that, it was me and Nico [Rosberg] in Bahrain many years ago.”
Hamilton insists new cars deliver ‘real racing’
There can be no denying that overtaking has increased significantly in 2026 compared to previous years. At face value, this is a success for Formula 1.
Dirty air has been significantly reduced, meaning one of F1’s most persistent issues is less of a factor. Still, there are some concerns the increase in action is ‘artificial’.
Of course, such complaints arise whenever a new mechanism is introduced to improve racing. When DRS was first implemented, for example, the overarching reaction from fans was of scepticism and disapproval.
In response, Lewis Hamilton emphasises that there is nothing artificial about the racing produced by these 2026 cars:
“So I just hope we get more of that, because it’s what racing is all about – rather than just one take and it’s over. I personally enjoy that.
“My point I was making earlier is that in karting, it happens in karting all the time – back and forth, back and forth.
“Nobody ever calls it ‘yo-yo racing’. It’s real racing. So whoever’s come up with that is… yeah.”
After an exciting and intense Chinese GP, the main talking point regarding these regulations is more focused. Race day, generally speaking, is not seen as an issue in need of being addressed.
This is a view shared by fans and, critically, teams and drivers. Instead, the loss of power on the straights during qualifying is seen as the main problem in need of a solution.
For this weekend’s qualifying in Japan, the FIA have confirmed tweaks will be introduced. The main change is a reduction in the recharge limit, aimed at reducing the occurrence of drivers running out of speed on the straights due to a lack of electrical power.
As it normal during a regulatory change, each race weekend serves as a lesson to make improvements.