The disqualification of Lewis Hamilton at the Chinese Grand Prix last season proved to be a defining moment in both his career and Ferrari’s journey since he made his high-profile move from Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team to Scuderia Ferrari.
Hamilton’s transfer to Ferrari had already dominated headlines long before he even drove for the Italian team. In early 2024, the seven-time world champion stunned fans by announcing he would leave Mercedes after more than a decade of success. The decision ended a legendary partnership that produced multiple world titles and countless victories, while also breaking the hearts of loyal Mercedes supporters and team principal Toto Wolff.
However, for Hamilton, the move was about fulfilling a childhood dream—racing in Ferrari’s iconic red colours in front of the passionate tifosi.
However, for Hamilton, the move was about fulfilling a childhood dream—racing in Ferrari’s iconic red colours in front of the passionate tifosi.
When Hamilton finally joined Ferrari in 2025, expectations were enormous. Yet his debut race with the Scuderia ended in disappointment as he could only manage 10th place. His fortunes improved almost immediately in the second round of the season in Shanghai, where he delivered a stunning victory in the sprint race. At the time, it looked like a breakthrough moment that might ignite a successful campaign.
Instead, that weekend took a dramatic turn. During the main race at the Chinese Grand Prix, both Hamilton and teammate Charles Leclerc were disqualified after post-race inspections revealed that the skid blocks on their Ferrari cars were below the required minimum thickness of 9mm. The ruling shocked the paddock and dealt a heavy blow to Ferrari’s hopes.
For Hamilton, the incident appeared to trigger a difficult period. Over the remainder of the 2025 season, his performances and morale seemed to suffer. At one point, the veteran driver even suggested Ferrari might be better off replacing him, a remark that worried fans who were unaccustomed to hearing such self-doubt from the usually confident champion.
One year later, however, the situation looks very different.
With the arrival of the 2026 season, Hamilton and Ferrari are determined to move past the struggles of 2025. The team spent much of last year insisting their real potential would emerge in the new campaign—and early signs suggest they may have been right.
The season began with Mercedes securing a dominant one-two finish at the Australian Grand Prix, putting them at the top of the championship standings. But Ferrari have shown impressive speed off the line, particularly with their rapid race starts, which have caught their rivals off guard
While Ferrari’s pace in Shanghai suggests they can challenge Mercedes over short runs, questions remain about their consistency across longer races. In the Chinese Grand Prix sprint, Mercedes still came out on top thanks to championship leader George Russell, whose strong performance highlighted the Silver Arrows’ overall race strength.
Hamilton nevertheless reminded everyone of his racing ability during that sprint. Benefiting partly from a poor start by rookie Kimi Antonelli, Hamilton fought Russell at the front throughout the 100km race. The new 2026 energy deployment rules caused the lead to change several times, producing a strategic battle between the two drivers.
However, Ferrari’s race management once again proved costly. When a safety car period prompted the team to pit both drivers together, Hamilton followed Leclerc into the pits and lost valuable time. During the stop, Lando Norris was able to overtake him, underlining Ferrari’s ongoing struggles with race strategy.
In the end, Hamilton crossed the line in third place—still a podium finish, but one that left him visibly frustrated. The Briton believed he had the pace to achieve more and made it clear in his post-race comments that the result was not entirely satisfying.
Nevertheless, the mood around Ferrari is far more optimistic than it was a year ago. Hamilton’s determination suggests he still believes the team has built a car capable of fighting regularly for podiums and victories.
And for a driver who still dreams of securing a record-breaking eighth world championship, the fight is far from over.
