[Saba Sports News] Lewis Hamilton has shown a resurgence in form during the 2026 season, but public opinion remains divided. Former Ferrari driver Eddie Irvine recently stated that although Hamilton claimed his first podium with Ferrari at the Chinese Grand Prix, it is still too early to declare that he has fully returned to his peak form.
After a disappointing 2025 season, Hamilton has approached the new year with a more positive mindset. His podium finish at the Chinese Grand Prix was initially seen as a sign of his comeback. However, Irvine pointed out that this result came with special circumstances, as Shanghai has long been one of Hamilton’s strongest circuits, where he has enjoyed clear historical advantages. In contrast, Hamilton lacked competitiveness at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Irvine stated plainly that Charles Leclerc outperformed his teammate in pace and performance throughout the entire race weekend, leading to more cautious assessments of Hamilton’s form. As the most direct benchmark for internal team comparison, Leclerc’s consistent results have become a key measure in evaluating Hamilton. For this reason, Irvine believes that Leclerc has overtaken Hamilton to become Ferrari’s number one driver.
In our opinion, although Ferrari has not issued an official statement, Leclerc is widely regarded as the team’s current lead driver based on recent results, performances and team dynamics.