F1TV interview notices subtle Lewis Hamilton detail that shows he’s a changed man in 2026

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Lewis Hamilton has had an incredible change in demeanour in 2026 from his disastrous first year with Ferrari, and the Austrian Grand Prix proved it.

The Maranello outfit were hyped coming into the Austrian Grand Prix after Hamilton’s first win for the team in Barcelona. The team brought engine upgrades and hoped to take the fight to Mercedes, but they ended up falling back.

Ferrari were 20kph down in Spielberg as Hamilton could only manage P5, while teammate Charles Leclerc was further off the pace and finished eighth. It was a disappointing weekend for the team, but the seven-time champion showed just how much he has changed since 2025.

Lewis Hamilton’s subtle wink in Austrian GP media pen shows his change in demeanour at Ferrari

It was well-documented how the 41-year-old’s mood was incredibly low during his first season at Ferrari. Hamilton could not adapt to the car or the team, and it culminated in arguably his worst season to date.

The Brit referred to himself as useless during 2025, and it led to major doubts around his future. ‘Many in F1’ likened Hamilton to Michael Schumacher in that he did not know when to call time on his career.

Hamilton’s despondent media debriefs were a regular occurrence, and it gave off the impression that he was giving up. But things have changed dramatically in 2026, as Lawrence Barretto saw firsthand.

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Speaking on the Drive to Wynn podcast, he noted how Hamilton gave a wink in the media pen after his interview in Austria. Despite the difficult weekend, he seems to be positive and had a refreshing look on things, unlike the doom and gloom of 2025.

“So on that Thursday in the paddock and talking to him, he’s just got this like, his shoulders are back. He’s kind of just got that swagger about him, which is great,” said Barretto.

“And then you fast forward to Sunday, and he went backwards, and ordinarily in the last couple years when that’s happened, Lewis isn’t that fun to talk to in that situation because he’s obviously really tough on himself and he’s frustrated and he talks quietly and his answers are shorter.

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“But even on Sunday when it hadn’t gone their way, he was sort of like happy, constructive because he knew he got the best out of the car. He knew that his team did the best that they could on that day. He obviously beat his teammate in Charles Leclerc as well.

“And he does this thing where he kind of gives you a wink after the end of the interview, good or bad. And I always know then that he’s pretty good in himself at that time.

“So yeah, OK, it wasn’t what he wanted it to be, of course it wasn’t given what happened in Spain, but I think from the start to the finish of that weekend, Lewis still feels that he’s right in the thick of this.”