The recent Australian GP was the first race weekend under the new 2026 F1 regulations. While many drivers shared their horror about the new cars and the complicated energy management, Lewis Hamilton was remarkably enthusiastic. Unlike Lando Norris and Max Verstappen, for example, the 41-year-old Briton stated that he ‘greatly enjoyed the fun race’ that the new regulations brought about.
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On paper, the new cars provided a huge number of overtakes and exciting battles. However, for the drivers and many seasoned F1 fans, the action at Albert Park was too artificial. In the media pen after the race, a wave of criticism was heard. Max Verstappen and Lando Norris, among others, were unimpressed. Lewis Hamilton struck a different tone and shared his enthusiasm for the new F1 regulations.
Hamilton satisfied
“I personally enjoyed it immensely,” he grinned to the gathered media. The Briton narrowly missed out on his first Ferrari podium in fourth place. From seventh on the grid, however, P4 was still a welcome final result. “I thought it was a very fun race and a very fun car to drive,” he explained. “I also kept an eye on the cars in front of me, that looked like a nice battle too. So far, I think it’s fine!” Hamilton was explicitly asked about the criticism from his fellow drivers. “I don’t know anything about that, you’ll have to ask them,” he replied indifferently. “I loved it.”
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“Of course, they are a bit further back,” the seven-time world champion added. “If you have twenty cars in front of you, it looks less rosy. But from my position, I thought it was fantastic,” he emphasized. “I had a good start, but then I think George (Russell, ed.) closed the door, which caused me to go too wide through the first corner. But after that, I just got back into the fight. I tried to get to know the car a bit better by controlling the pace. By the end, I had a good handle on it; with a few more laps, I could have overtaken Charles (Leclerc, ed.).”
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