Former Formula 1 champion Nigel Mansell has commended Lewis Hamilton's strong start to the 2026 season with Ferrari. The seven-time world champion sits fourth in the drivers' standings with 41 points after podium finishes in recent races. Mansell described Hamilton as 'fired up again' following a challenging debut year at the Italian team.
Nigel Mansell, the 1992 Formula 1 world champion, praised Lewis Hamilton's performances with Ferrari during an interview on Sky Sports News. 'Lewis is fired up again. Lewis has had a brilliant career and it's fantastic what he's doing,' Mansell said. He added that Hamilton appears 'reinvigorated' after Ferrari made significant improvements over the winter, positioning them competitively behind leaders Mercedes and McLaren. Hamilton, now 41, joined Ferrari in 2025 following 12 years at Mercedes, where he secured six of his seven titles. His first season with the Maranello-based team was difficult as he adapted, but 2026 has brought better results. He earned a podium at the Chinese Grand Prix, fourth place in Australia, and sixth in Japan, accumulating 41 points for fourth in the standings. This marks Hamilton's 20th season since his 2007 debut. Ahead of the year, he shared a reflective Instagram post: '20 seasons as an F1 driver. It’s hard to even grasp the reality of that number... I’m still here, 20 years on, still standing, still hungry, still focused on the dream.'
