Nigel Mansell's 'romantic' wish for Lewis Hamilton's eighth title

Nigel Mansell has publicly backed Lewis Hamilton to win a record-breaking eighth world championship with Ferrari, calling it a "romantic" hope. The 1992 champion believes the 41-year-old deserves to cap his career with the historic title, even as he faces fierce competition from younger rivals like Lando Norris. Hamilton's 2026 season with Ferrari has shown promise after a difficult first year, positioning him for a potential late-career title challenge.

Why it matters:

Hamilton's pursuit of an unprecedented eighth title is one of the great narratives in modern F1. Achieving it with Ferrari, a team he joined to fulfill a childhood dream, would be a storybook ending to his legendary career. Mansell's endorsement highlights the respect Hamilton commands from past champions and underscores the emotional weight of his final championship attempts.

The details:

• In an interview with Sky Sports F1, Mansell stated, "I'm going to be romantic. I'd like Lewis to do it. Lando has got so many years ahead of him; he can do it again."
• Hamilton's move to Ferrari in 2025 was challenging, resulting in a sixth-place finish in the standings without a podium. The 2026 season has been stronger, with a podium in China and fourth place in the championship so far.
• Ferrari's improved performance has revived hopes, though Mercedes currently holds the early-season pace advantage, making the title fight an uphill battle.
• Mansell also strongly backed Hamilton to win a historic 10th British Grand Prix at Silverstone this July, calling it "odds on" given Hamilton's reinvigorated form and Ferrari's winter progress.

What's next:

The 2026 season represents one of Hamilton's clearest—and possibly final—opportunities to secure the elusive eighth crown. With Mercedes as the early benchmark and McLaren also in the mix, the development race will be critical. Mansell predicts that by the time F1 reaches Silverstone, the competition will be extremely close among six or seven potential winners, setting the stage for a dramatic second half of the season as Hamilton chases history.