Lewis Hamilton’s ambitions of reclaiming the Formula 1 world title in 2026 have reportedly suffered a serious blow following written communication from the FIA. The governing body’s stance has sparked fresh concern within the paddock, with some believing Ferrari’s championship prospects may already be compromised before the season properly begins.
The seven-time world champion endured a challenging first year with Ferrari after his blockbuster switch from Mercedes. Despite an early highlight with victory in the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint, Hamilton’s campaign quickly lost momentum. By season’s end, he placed sixth overall, finishing a significant 86 points adrift of teammate Charles Leclerc, underlining the difficulties of Ferrari’s transition phase.
Ferrari unveiled their 2026 challenger, the SF-26, on Friday morning, with both Hamilton and Leclerc completing early running at Fiorano. Yet optimism surrounding the launch was swiftly tempered by claims that rival teams—particularly Mercedes—may already hold a decisive edge under the new regulatory framework, casting doubt over Ferrari’s ability to mount a sustained title challenge.
Paddock speculation suggests Mercedes may have identified a loophole within the revised fuel compression regulations, potentially delivering a performance advantage of up to four tenths of a second per lap. Although the compression ratio has officially been reduced from 18:1 to 16:1 for 2026, reports allege Mercedes have engineered a solution that complies during FIA checks while operating at higher efficiency on track. Crucially, Motorsport IT reports that the FIA has issued written correspondence approving Mercedes’ interpretation.
With Mercedes tipped to start the new era ahead of the field, Hamilton and Leclerc could find themselves fighting an uphill battle against not only their former team but also McLaren and Red Bull. Still, Hamilton remains publicly upbeat, embracing the sweeping regulation changes and framing 2026 as a fresh chapter—one focused on renewal, adaptation, and arriving fully prepared to seize whatever opportunity emerges.
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