Ferrari has a major trick up its sleeve, but can it help propel Lewis Hamilton to his record-breaking eighth world championship?

After the horrors of 2025, Lewis Hamilton is firmly back in the hunt in the 2026 season with the new breed of F1 car.

In China, the seven-time champion finished third in both the Sprint and the main grand prix as he finally claimed that first podium for Ferrari in his 26th race for the team.

After his 203rd career podium, Hamilton declared that he was enjoying the new cars, which are more akin to his driving style of late braking and ‘v-ing’ a corner rather than the ‘u-ing’ which was required in the ground effects era.

Further to boost Hamilton’s mood is the lightning-fast start trick Ferrari has developed, aided by its smaller turbo.

At all three starts in 2026, a Ferrari has jumped the leading front-row pair of both Mercedes cars, with Hamilton leading in China before Kimi Antonelli muscled past on the second lap.

But is the SF-26 package, including those uber-quick starts, enough for Hamilton to finally claim that elusive eighth title and break the record he holds with Michael Schumacher?

Let us know what you think by voting in the poll below and in the comments!