Damon Hill says Lewis Hamilton has finally escaped the ‘straitjacket’ he was in for four years

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As Lewis Hamilton delivered one of his best performances in a Ferrari in Monaco, Damon Hill saw the seven-time world champion drive freer than he had in years.

With his P2 finish at the Monaco Grand Prix, Hamilton surpassed George Russell in the standings and now finds himself second in the championship for the first time in almost five years.

Hamilton was grateful to Ferrari after the race for giving him a competitive car that’s suited to his driving style, and his comfort with the SF-26 has been visible this season.

Lewis Hamilton is up to second in the drivers’ standings after the Monaco GP! Where will George Russell finish this year?

Photo by Mark Sutton – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images

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This season has been a return to form for Hamilton, who looks to be back to his best, even though he finds himself behind Kimi Antonelli in the standings.

But Damon Hill believes Lewis Hamilton’s performance showed exactly what he was struggling with over the last few years, and how the regulation change has given him new life.

READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton’s ‘massive’ complaints about Ferrari brakes resurface after Charles Leclerc crash

Damon Hill spotted a change in Lewis Hamilton’s driving style in Monaco after five years

Speaking during BBC Radio’s coverage of the Monaco Grand Prix, Damon Hill pointed out just how comfortable Lewis Hamilton looks under the new regulations compared to the ground effect era.

Contrasting his performance with that of George Russell, Hill admitted that Hamilton feels far less restricted under the new regulations, and can throw the car around a little bit more.

“It’s very interesting, the difference between drivers’ styles. I do feel like when they had the Venturi ground effect cars in the previous five years, Lewis was in a little bit of a straitjacket.

“Now, I see him driving, and he’s able to hustle the car a little bit more like it’s a go-kart. I think this may well be why George is having a little bit of trouble with these cars compared to Kimi, maybe.

“I don’t know, but it certainly is a factor that some drivers prefer a particular type of car’s handling to others.”

READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton knew Kimi Antonelli would take his Mercedes seat ‘no matter what’ before Ferrari move

Lewis Hamilton believes he’s got what it takes to win the 2026 championship🏆 How do you rate his chances?

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Lewis Hamilton resurgence spells disaster for Formula 1 drivers

After the 2021 season, Lewis Hamilton looked like a shell of himself under the ground effect regulations. Many had assumed it was a natural decline as the legendary driver found himself on the wrong side of 40.

But this recent resurgence has shown that the seven-time world champion is still capable of being in the top mix for the championship.

This improvement has helped the Briton’s demeanour, as Hamilton’s body language has improved greatly compared to the last few years.

Hamilton’s stunning performance in Monaco should serve as a reminder to his rivals that they cannot rule him out as a serious contender this season.