Martin Brundle’s pre-season prediction for Lewis Hamilton has already aged like fine wine

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F1 icon Martin Brundle made a bold prediction regarding how Lewis Hamilton would fare during the first year of the sport’s new technical regulations, and, after nine rounds of racing, it has already aged like fine wine.

After a troublesome debut year with Ferrari last year, the 2026 F1 season was built up to be a make-or-break campaign for seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton.

The Briton had already faced staunch criticism regarding his performances in 2025, with retirement rumours plaguing Hamilton during the second half of the season.

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However, with a year of experience in Italian machinery under his belt, as well as the assertion of his own presence during Ferrari’s 2026 F1 car development, there was still an inkling of hope that maybe Hamilton could be back to his very best this year.

One F1 paddock figure who was holding out hope for exactly that was Martin Brundle, with the 67-year-old’s pre-season prediction seemingly ageing like fine wine.

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Martin Brundle was ‘confident’ that Lewis Hamilton would have a better year with Ferrari in 2026

Ferrari brought with them a swathe of cutting-edge technical innovations to all three of the tests that took place in pre-season.

With a near 20-year title drought hanging over Maranello, Fred Vasseur was keen to hit the ground running in the sport’s new era of technical regulations.

Straight away, Brundle saw that Hamilton was happier, telling Sky Sports News (26/02, 12:07) after the final week of pre-season testing in Bahrain, “As Formula 1 fans, we always want Ferrari to do well, don’t we? And I’d love to see that come right for Lewis.

“He seems a bit happier. He will be great at using the tools that are available to him under the new regulations. He’s got to beat Charles Leclerc in the other Ferrari, because he’s right on it, as well.

“But a happy Lewis has always been, and not just at Ferrari, been a fast Lewis. And I have to say, Ferrari have been quite innovative over the winter, and they look in a better place than we’ve seen them for a few years now. So, I’m confident that Lewis will have a better year.”

• READ MORE: Ferrari urged to make ‘extreme’ Lewis Hamilton decision if they want to win the 2026 F1 title

Everyone in the F1 paddock has felt the change in mood from the Briton during the current campaign. Hamilton is now spending more time with the media, a stark shift from the blunt responses that he issued during his downtrodden days last year.

Following Brundle’s words in February, Hamilton noted his confidence in Ferrari was ‘even stronger’ after a strong pre-season programme that has now culminated in one Grand Prix victory, four further podiums, and P3 in the F1 standings after nine rounds.