Lewis Hamilton was enthusiastic after the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix. The Ferrari driver believes that the new technical rules offer some of the best racing quality he has experienced in Formula 1.
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Lewis Hamilton had a particularly positive weekend at the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix. At the Shanghai circuit, the seven-time world champion took third place after an intense race, notably marked by a tough but clean duel with his teammate Charles Leclerc.
The British driver even briefly joined the fight for victory in the early laps. But the superiority of the two Mercedes ultimately proved decisive. Kimi Antonelli and George Russell indeed controlled the race to deliver a one-two finish for Mercedes.
Despite this, Hamilton left Shanghai satisfied, convinced that the new generation of single-seaters now allows for closer and more spectacular battles.
Verstappen continues his criticism
Since the start of the season, Formula 1’s new technical rules have been fueling debates in the paddock. The most vocal on the subject remains Max Verstappen, who has not hesitated to openly criticize the direction taken by the discipline.
The Red Bull Racing driver believes that the current regulations could harm the spectacle and recently stated that these rules risked “ruining the sport” if they remained in place.
His Chinese weekend was also particularly frustrating. After a catastrophic start that saw him drop to 16th place, Verstappen nevertheless seemed capable of scoring big points thanks to a great comeback. But a technical problem on his car ultimately forced him to retire at the end of the race.
Hamilton praises the quality of the racing
For his part, Hamilton has a completely different view of the situation. The Ferrari driver believes that the new rules make it much easier to follow other cars than before.
“Yes, the cars are easier to follow, much more so than a few years ago. You can really get close to another car without losing a huge amount of downforce.”
According to him, this evolution considerably improves the quality of the battles on track: “Honestly, I think it’s the best level of racing I’ve experienced in Formula 1.”
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The Briton explains that the possibility of staying close to an opponent for several corners opens the door to much more intense duels than before.
Close duels like in karting
Hamilton notably mentioned the very special feeling experienced during wheel-to-wheel battles.
“At times, it felt like karting. Attacking in one corner, then the next, again and again.”
The Ferrari driver also highlights the respect between drivers, an essential element when the gaps are extremely small.
“Sometimes, there was almost nothing between the cars, maybe the thickness of a sheet of paper. But we never touched.”
For him, these clashes demonstrate both the talent of the drivers and the positive evolution of the regulations.
Improvements still needed
Hamilton recognizes, however, that not everything is perfect. Some teams like Mercedes currently have a significant top-speed advantage, which can complicate certain overtaking phases.
“They sometimes overtake us at incredible speeds. We still need to understand how to improve our straight-line speed.”
Despite these necessary adjustments, the Ferrari driver is optimistic for the rest of the season. According to him, if the hierarchy remains as tight as in the first races, fans could witness one of the most spectacular seasons in recent years in Formula 1.
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