Former Formula 1 driver Anthony Davidson has addressed ongoing discussions surrounding Lewis Hamilton’s performance, attributing recent shifts in form to the characteristics of the current Formula 1 cars. Davidson’s analysis suggests that the machinery itself has been a significant factor in Hamilton’s output.
Hamilton joined Ferrari for the 2025 season, following a challenging period with Mercedes’ ground-effect cars from 2022 to 2024. His debut campaign in red during 2025 did not yield a podium finish across 24 races, leading to visible frustration.
Ahead of the 2026 season, Davidson predicted that the new technical regulations would benefit Hamilton’s driving style. He noted that the 2026 cars feature less downforce and grip compared to their predecessors, allowing for more platform movement.
Davidson explained that Hamilton prefers a car with greater compliance and movement, rather than the stiff, low, and often violent ground-effect machines. This change was expected to enable Hamilton to better showcase his known abilities.
The 2026 regulations introduced a wholesale transformation of the cars, including a new power unit architecture and active aerodynamics. These changes aim to balance drag and downforce across various sections of the track.
During the current 2026 season, Hamilton has shown encouraging signs with Ferrari. He secured a fourth-place finish at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
At the Chinese Grand Prix, Hamilton outqualified teammate Charles Leclerc twice, both for the Sprint and the Grand Prix. He also achieved a podium finish in the Sprint race.
Hamilton continued to demonstrate strong form, securing a second-place finish at the Monaco Grand Prix behind Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli. He then finished third at the British Grand Prix.
Despite Ferrari’s improved reliability, Hamilton has identified a performance gap to Mercedes. He noted that the Mercedes W17 holds an advantage primarily on the straights, particularly when active aero is deployed.
Hamilton estimated Ferrari’s deficit to Mercedes at approximately half a second per lap in race trim earlier this season. He highlighted Mercedes’ superior energy management and deployment as key differentiators.
Mercedes, while possessing the fastest car in the W17, has encountered reliability issues this season. George Russell retired from the Canadian Grand Prix due to a battery problem.
Kimi Antonelli also faced reliability concerns, retiring from the Barcelona Grand Prix with an electrical failure and experiencing a wheel shield issue at the British Grand Prix.
Davidson recently assessed the championship landscape after the British Grand Prix, the ninth round of the season. He believes Mercedes’ mounting reliability problems present a viable path for Ferrari to contend for the title.
‘The reliability issues, they must be more than a concern for Mercedes,’ Davidson stated. ‘And Ferrari as a team, they must be thinking, ‘Well, even if we don’t have the fastest car, maybe we can rely on this for the rest of the season.’ Because so far, they’ve been bulletproof.’
Mercedes currently leads the constructors’ championship with 333 points, with Ferrari in second place on 255 points. Hamilton is third in the drivers’ standings, 32 points behind leader Antonelli.
