Martin Brundle is confident that Lewis Hamilton will return to the championship picture this season after his bruising debut season with Ferrari in 2025.
But the Sky F1 commentator also believes that the 41-year-old F1 veteran doesn’t just need a fast car to restore his former luster – he also needs to beat the man sitting across the Italian outfit’s garage.
Charles Leclerc didn't just beat Hamilton last year; he systematically dismantled him. Brundle insists that while the tools are there for a resurgence, Hamilton must find a way to get ahead of the Prince of Monaco.
“As Formula 1 fans, we always want Ferrari to do well, don’t we? I’d love to see that come right for Lewis,” Brundle told Sky Sports.
“He seems a bit happier. He will be great at using the tools that are available to him under the new regulations. He’s got to beat Charles Leclerc in the other Ferrari, because he’s right on it, as well.”
The psychological state of the Briton has always been his greatest barometer for success.
When Hamilton is "on," he is untouchable, and Brundle notes that the early signs from the Ferrari camp suggest a rejuvenated driver.
“But a happy Lewis has always been, and not just at Ferrari, a fast Lewis,” he added. “And I have to say, Ferrari have been quite innovative over the winter and they look in a better place than we’ve seen them for a few years now.
“So I’m confident that Lewis will have a better year.”
No Clear Favourite in a Four-Team Battle
While Hamilton hunts for his eighth crown, he enters a 2026 landscape that Brundle describes as a wide-open battlefield.
The dominance of a single team appears to be a thing of the past, with McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari all sharpening their blades for a four-way scrap.
"I see Ferrari being strong, I see both Ferrari drivers being strong," Brundle added.
"I think both McLaren drivers will be strong as well. Oscar will come back on a mission after what he learned last year; Lando, I don't think I've ever seen him yet not with that big grin on his face so far this year, he's just got that comfort now.
“The Red Bull looks really strong, and we know how Max's car control, which you'll need with these cars, will be incredible. So, for me, there's not a clear favourite."
George Russell Rising
While backing Hamilton for a rebound, Brundle also sees a new British contender for the world title firmly emerging at Mercedes: George Russell.
"I do think he's ready for it," the former Grand Prix driver said Russell.
"He's a smart guy; they're all smart guys. George has got the team around him. Kimi [Antonelli] will be stronger this year in the other car, but George is completely out of Lewis [Hamilton]'s shadow there, he's the king of the castle at Mercedes-Benz.
©Mercedes
“He did all those years at Williams and then he went to Mercedes when they just stopped dominating, so he's done the hard yards. I think he's got the experience, he's got the car control, and I think he will command the respect in the team to help drive what's going to be an incredibly changeable year.”
Brundle dismissed any concerns that Russell might buckle under the weight of leading a title charge against the likes of Max Verstappen.
Read also:
"We questioned that with Lando [Norris] last year, and Oscar [Piastri] too, whether they would wilt under pressure from Max [Verstappen], and they didn’t,” he said.
“I think George is in a very good place. Remember, [Russell] grew up in Lewis Hamilton's shadow at Mercedes, and he handled that, and eventually in the final year they were team-mates, he beat Lewis clearly.
“So, I have no doubts about him whatsoever. They're all world-class drivers in F1, you've got to beat them somehow. I think George has got so much experience now despite not being 30 yet, that I don't think anything will distract him if he's got a championship-winning car.”
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook
