Jenson Button: 2026 Season is Make-or-Break for Lewis Hamilton

Jenson Button, the 2009 F1 World Champion and former teammate of Lewis Hamilton, believes the 2026 season will be a pivotal moment for the seven-time champion. After a challenging debut year with Ferrari, marked by inconsistent performances and reliability issues, Button suggests that the significant regulation changes coming in 2026 will either bring out Hamilton's best or potentially lead to his retirement from the sport.

Why it matters:

Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari was one of the most talked-about transfers in F1 history, carrying immense expectations for both driver and team. His performance in 2026, under entirely new technical regulations, will be a critical indicator of his adaptability and whether he can rediscover his championship-winning form with a new team, especially after a period of struggle.

The Details:

• Inconsistent Performances: Despite flashes of brilliance, such as winning Ferrari's first-ever sprint race in Shanghai, Hamilton's 2025 season has been marred by inconsistency. Button noted that Hamilton lacks the 'confidence in the car' that has characterized his previous championship-winning campaigns.
• Team Dynamics: Button highlighted that Hamilton is currently without his long-standing core team of engineers and strategists, a factor that takes time to rebuild and gel within a new environment like Ferrari.
• 2026 Regulations: The upcoming 2026 regulation changes are described as 'massive' and are expected to significantly shake up the competitive order, presenting both a challenge and an opportunity for Hamilton to prove his enduring talent.
• Recent Struggles: Hamilton's struggles continued at the Singapore Grand Prix, where a faulty brake relegated him to seventh place, compounded by a five-second time penalty that dropped him further behind Fernando Alonso. He has yet to achieve a Grand Prix podium this season.
  • His best results have been a sprint victory in China and a top-three finish at the Miami sprint.
• Upcoming Opportunities: The Circuit of the Americas, host of the next F1 weekend, offers a potential turning point. Hamilton has a strong track record there, and Ferrari secured an impressive one-two finish at the circuit last season, suggesting a favorable environment for a podium push.

What's Next:

The 2026 season's new regulations will be a true test of Hamilton's resilience and adaptability. His ability to integrate with Ferrari's new technical direction and capitalize on the regulation reset will determine if he can mount another title challenge or if the immense pressure and challenges will lead him to consider walking away from the sport.