Lewis Hamilton hails ‘best racing’ of F1 career after fierce Charles Leclerc duel

Lewis Hamilton declared the racing under F1's 2026 regulations the best of his career after a thrilling, wheel-to-wheel battle with Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc at the Chinese Grand Prix. The seven-time champion secured his first podium for Ferrari with a third-place finish, emerging victorious from a multi-lap duel he described as feeling like "go-karting."

Why it matters:

Hamilton's endorsement carries significant weight, coming from the sport's most experienced and successful active driver. His praise suggests the 2026 technical overhaul—aimed specifically at improving wheel-to-wheel racing—is achieving its primary goal. After years of complaints about cars being difficult to follow, a positive verdict from a veteran competitor signals a potential new era of closer, more engaging competition for fans and drivers alike.

The details:

• The battle was a three-way fight early on between Hamilton, Leclerc, and Mercedes' George Russell before settling into an intense scrap for the final podium spot between the two Ferrari drivers.
• Hamilton highlighted the improved ability to follow another car closely without a severe loss of downforce, a key metric the new rules were designed to address.
• New Strategic Layer: The 2026 power units, with their near 50/50 split between internal combustion and electrical energy, have introduced a complex new strategic element. Overtaking is now heavily influenced by battery harvesting, deployment, and "super clipping."
• Hamilton admitted mastering this new system is "very, very challenging," requiring meticulous attention to detail and racecraft to optimize energy usage during a fight.
• Despite the improved racing, Hamilton noted Ferrari needs to find more straight-line speed, as rivals like Mercedes were still "pulling past us at crazy speeds" on the straights.

What's next:

The true test of the new regulations will be their consistency across different circuit layouts. The championship now heads to Suzuka for the Japanese Grand Prix, a classic, high-speed track that will challenge the cars' aerodynamic and energy management characteristics in a different way.

• Hamilton, a five-time winner in Japan, will look to continue Ferrari's momentum. The Scuderia hasn't won at Suzuka since Michael Schumacher in 2004.
• If the close racing seen in Shanghai translates to other circuits, the 2026 season could be remembered as a pivotal turning point for on-track action in Formula 1.