Hamilton defies critics of F1 new era: ‘I personally loved it’

While many drivers spent their weekend in Melbourne grumbling about the new era of Formula 1, one man was busy having the time of his life: Lewis Hamilton.

The seven-time world champion cut a strikingly upbeat figure after Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix, where the new-generation 2026 cars sparked a heated debate up and down the grid.

Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, among others, vented their frustrations loud and clear while Hamilton was practically glowing.

Staring his race from seventh on the grid, the Ferrari driver finished fourth, right on the gearbox of Scuderia teammate Charles Leclerc after a spirited drive, perhaps his best since joining the Italian outfit.

And unlike many of his rivals, Hamilton sounded genuinely thrilled by the new-spec machine.

“I personally loved it,” he said after the race.

“I thought the race was really fun to drive. I thought the car was really fun to drive. I watched the cars ahead, there was some good battling back and forth. So far, so good.”

Paddock Pushback? Hamilton Shrugs

The 2026 regulation overhaul has divided opinions sharply across Formula 1. Even Hamilton himself had admitted after qualifying that he was still wrapping his head around the complex new rules. But once the lights went out in Melbourne, his tone shifted from cautious curiosity to outright enjoyment.

When asked about the sharp criticism voiced by rivals like Verstappen and Norris, Hamilton didn’t bite. Instead, he offered a laid-back, almost cheeky response.

“I don’t know, you’ll have to ask them. I thought it was awesome,” he said.

"But again, they’re all further down the line, with 20 cars ahead of you, it may seem different. But from my position, I thought it was great.”

Fast Start, Fierce Fight

Hamilton’s race wasn’t without its early drama. Ferrari’s strong launches had been a talking point throughout testing, and Hamilton delivered a sharp getaway when the lights went out. But things got tight into Turn 1.

“I had a good start,” he said when asked about his launch off the grid. “George, I don’t know if he was defending me, but I ended up being a bit wide through Turn 1. But then I ended up back in the fight, in the mix.

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“Then I was just really trying to learn about the car the whole time through the pace, and towards the end I had good pace. So, couple of more laps and I would have had Charles [Leclerc].

"So, that’s positive and for the next races I know where to pick up. and improve on to be fighting for podiums going forwards.”

Ferrari’s Next Target: Straight-Line Speed

Hamilton’s performance suggested Ferrari is hovering close to the front – but not quite there yet.

The 41-year-old believes the car holds its own in the corners but still needs more punch on the straights, especially compared to Mercedes’ W17.

“We’ve just got to keep pushing and we’ve got to bring upgrades and keep developing, which the team is working hard on,” he said.

“We’ve got to look at where we are losing, which I think is on the straights, because we’re just as quick as them [Mercedes] through the corners.

“So, the car’s good. We just need something on straightline speed. So, that’s something we need to figure out and I have no doubt we’ll do that.”

For now, though, Hamilton appears content to stand apart from the chorus of complaints. In a paddock full of skeptics, the Ferrari driver may just be the loudest voice saying the future of Formula 1 feels pretty “awesome.”

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