Button: 2026 offers Hamilton 'perfect opportunity' to turn Ferrari story around

Jenson Button believes the 2026 Formula 1 season represents the "perfect opportunity" for Lewis Hamilton to reverse his fortunes at Ferrari. After a challenging debut year with the Scuderia in 2025 that saw him fail to score a single podium, the sweeping new technical regulations for 2026 could provide the reset Hamilton and Ferrari need to become frontrunners again.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's move to Ferrari was one of the biggest stories in F1 history, but his first season fell dramatically short of expectations. The seven-time champion's ability to influence the design of the 2026 car during that difficult year could now be the key to a successful comeback. For Ferrari, returning to winning ways with a legend of the sport would mark a monumental turnaround after several underwhelming seasons.

The details:

• Button, Hamilton's former McLaren teammate and a Sky Sports F1 pundit, emphasized that Hamilton's input on the 2026 car will be crucial. "It's more about whether he has been able to have an impact on the car itself," he said.
• The 2009 world champion noted that Hamilton has now had time to build relationships within the team and shape the car's direction, which was impossible during his first year.
• Button framed 2026 as a pivotal moment: "It's an important year for him. If it doesn't work this year, I don't know if it is going to work again. This is the perfect opportunity for him to turn it around."
• Early signs from pre-season testing in Bahrain have been promising for Ferrari. The team showed strong speed and reliability, with Hamilton's race simulation on the final day particularly catching the eye of rival team bosses.

What's next:

The final pre-season test in Bahrain this week will offer more clues, but the true test begins at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in March. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, while urging caution about reading too much into testing times, acknowledged that Ferrari and Mercedes looked "at the top of the list" in terms of early performance. If Ferrari's 2026 car is as competitive as testing hints suggest, Hamilton may finally get the machinery to write a triumphant new chapter in his career and for the fabled Italian team.