Lewis Hamilton targets Ferrari victories in wide open 2026 Formula 1 season
Lewis Hamilton is well positioned to secure race victories for Ferrari as Formula 1 returns to action with the Miami Grand Prix following a five-week break.
The seven-time world champion currently sits fourth in the drivers’ standings after claiming his first podium for the Scuderia at the Chinese Grand Prix.
Mercedes have dominated the opening exchanges of the 2026 campaign, with Kimi Antonelli and George Russell winning all three races so far.
Ferrari target Mercedes gap
Former driver and commentator Martin Brundle believes the impending race in Florida will act as a relaunch for the chasing pack.
Teams have spent the enforced April break developing major upgrades for their radically altered 2026 machines.
The Italian marque are expected to deliver a significant performance step in the United States to challenge the early championship pacesetters.
Hamilton trails his team-mate Charles Leclerc by just eight points, with the pair already engaging in fierce on-track battles during the Asian leg of the calendar.
Hamilton relishing rule changes
The British driver struggled at the recent Japanese Grand Prix but appears visibly reinvigorated following his winter departure from Mercedes.
“Lewis clearly enjoys these cars much more.”
Brundle noted that the previous ground-effect era vehicles did not suit the driving style of the 103-time race winner.
“Just his mood and just the way he’s going about it, he just seems a lot happier because Ferrari is more competitive.”
Sprint format returns in Miami
To mount a serious title challenge, the former McLaren star must first establish supremacy over Leclerc within his own garage.
Both Ferrari drivers are seeking their first race wins since the 2024 season.
“If there’s a sniff of a victory, I think Lewis is still very much capable of taking that.”
The upcoming weekend features the second sprint event of the year, offering crucial additional championship points.
McLaren have claimed victory at the venue in the past two seasons, adding another variable to the competitive order.
