Former Ferrari driver Eddie Irvine expressed caution on the notion that Lewis Hamilton has returned to form in F1 2026.<\/p>\n
Hamilton<\/a> ended his wait for a Ferrari podium at the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix, a venue at which he is a record six-time winner. However, Irvine suggests Charles Leclerc \u201coutclassed\u201d his teammate, prompting the Irishman to hold his horses on declaring that Hamilton is back.<\/p>\n Lewis Hamilton return to form questioned after China podium<\/p>\n Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for news you can trust.<\/p>\n Hamilton went into F1 2026 with a refreshed mentality following a challenging first season in Ferrari red.<\/p>\n The Scuderia has been present on every podium this year; Leclerc was third at the Australian and Japanese GPs, while Hamilton scored his first Ferrari podium at the Chinese GP.<\/p>\n Irvine, a winner of four grands prix with Ferrari, was asked by La Gazzetta dello Sport whether he believes Hamilton has found his form again.<\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t take that for granted,\u201d said Irvine.<\/p>\n \u201cIn China, he finished on the podium for the first time with Ferrari, but that\u2019s his circuit.<\/p>\n \u201cIn Japan, however, he was outclassed by Charles Leclerc throughout the weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n More on Lewis Hamilton from PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n How Lewis Hamilton is shaping Ferrari SF-26 development behind the scenes<\/a><\/p>\n Hamilton questions Ferrari after mysterious power loss costs him Suzuka podium<\/a><\/p>\n There is no doubt that Ferrari, as a collective, is in a stronger place at the start of Formula 1\u2019s new era.<\/p>\n While Mercedes has won all three grands prix thus far, Ferrari has applied pressure, and the F1 2026 development war is expected to be fierce.<\/p>\n Irvine was asked whether he believes Ferrari could challenge for title glory this year.<\/p>\n Ferrari\u2019s 2008 Constructors\u2019 Championship win remains its most recent example.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s always very difficult for the Scuderia,\u201d said Irvine. \u201cThe problem is the distance from the heart of the F1 world, which is the UK.<\/p>\n \u201cCompared to last year, though, I think they can secure at least one victory.\u201d<\/p>\n Time will tell whether Lewis Hamilton is back<\/p>\n Irvine raises a valid point by highlighting Shanghai as Hamilton\u2019s track; he won the Chinese GP Sprint race in 2025, one of few highlights in his first Ferrari season.<\/p>\n It is also true that Leclerc had the measure of Hamilton at Suzuka.<\/p>\n But one could go back to the season opener in Melbourne, where Hamilton hounded Leclerc to the chequered flag, as an example of the seven-time World Champion looking impressive outside of Shanghai.<\/p>\n Hamilton felt that he proved in China that he can still compete at the front. It is simply a case of time will tell in F1 2026 how true that is.<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n