Martin Brundle has suggested that Lewis Hamilton’s decision to leave Mercedes for Ferrari may carry a sense of “what could have been”, particularly after seeing the extraordinary form of Kimi Antonelli in the early stages of the new Formula 1 regulations.
The 2026 Formula 1 season has, however, marked a clear step forward for Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari, with the British driver adapting more comfortably to the new technical era. Lewis Hamilton opened his Ferrari podium account in Shanghai before delivering his strongest performance to date at the Canadian Grand Prix, where he secured a superb second-place finish.
Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc described Lewis Hamilton’s Canadian Grand Prix display as “incredible”, with Lewis Hamilton showcasing impressive racecraft in a close and hard-fought battle with Max Verstappen. Despite that strong showing, Lewis Hamilton was ultimately unable to match the pace of race winner Kimi Antonelli and Mercedes, who continue to set the benchmark under the current regulations.
Martin Brundle has therefore suggested that Lewis Hamilton’s P2 finish in Montreal could feel “bittersweet”, given the performance level currently demonstrated by Mercedes and their former driver’s success in a car that Lewis Hamilton helped develop in previous seasons.
Martin Brundle labels Lewis Hamilton Canada result “bittersweet” amid Kimi Antonelli Mercedes surge
Since the introduction of the latest regulation cycle, Mercedes have established themselves as the dominant force in Formula 1, winning every Grand Prix so far. Kimi Antonelli has been particularly impressive, securing four consecutive victories and becoming the first driver in Formula 1 history to win each of his first four races in succession.
Kimi Antonelli now holds a 43-point lead over Mercedes teammate George Russell in the drivers’ championship, underlining the strength of the Brackley-based team’s package and reinforcing their position as early title favourites.
It is this dominance that led Martin Brundle to describe Lewis Hamilton’s Canadian Grand Prix result as emotionally complex, suggesting that the Ferrari driver could potentially be leading the championship had he remained at Mercedes for the 2026 season.
Speaking on Sky Sports F1 after the race, Martin Brundle reflected on Lewis Hamilton’s performance in Montreal, explaining that the result carried both satisfaction and an underlying sense of contrast with Mercedes’ current success.
Martin Brundle stated that Lewis Hamilton’s situation was “kind of sweet and bittersweet”, noting that Kimi Antonelli had won the race in the same Mercedes machinery that Lewis Hamilton had left behind in order to join Ferrari.
However, Martin Brundle also emphasised that Lewis Hamilton’s performance at the Canadian Grand Prix should not be underestimated, highlighting the significance of securing second place through a direct and competitive battle with Max Verstappen.
According to Martin Brundle, Lewis Hamilton would likely feel “thoroughly satisfied” with the manner in which the result was achieved, particularly given the quality of the overtakes and race management displayed throughout the Grand Prix.
Should Lewis Hamilton regret leaving Mercedes for Ferrari?
While it may appear straightforward to question Lewis Hamilton’s move from Mercedes to Ferrari in light of current performance trends, the broader context of Ferrari’s development trajectory suggests a more nuanced picture.
Ferrari have made clear progress under the current regulations, with internal structural changes and improved responsiveness to technical feedback playing a key role in the team’s resurgence. Lewis Hamilton himself has been closely involved in this process, contributing to setup direction and engineering refinement alongside Charles Leclerc.
Former Formula 1 driver David Coulthard has also argued that Lewis Hamilton will not regret his decision to leave Mercedes, suggesting that both the driver and Toto Wolff recognised the need for a new challenge after the end of the previous regulatory cycle.
For Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari represents a long-term ambition and a new competitive project rather than a short-term performance decision. As the seven-time world champion continues to adapt to the SF-26 platform and build stronger synergy with Charles Leclerc, the early signs suggest that the partnership is beginning to stabilise.
With Mercedes currently leading the championship through Kimi Antonelli’s exceptional form, and Ferrari continuing to close the competitive gap, the 2026 Formula 1 season is rapidly developing into a key reference point for evaluating Lewis Hamilton’s decision to switch teams.
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