Damon Hill: It seems that the new regulations suit Lewis.

      Damon Hill, like many others, sees that Lewis Hamilton has clearly regained his spirit after a disappointing previous season and believes that the seven-time world champion can be expected to achieve new victories this season. An important sign of this is the recent podium at the Chinese Grand Prix, which became Lewis's first such achievement since the race in Las Vegas at the end of the 2024 season. But back then he was still driving for Mercedes, while in Shanghai he finished in the top three for the first time behind the wheel of a Ferrari. "He has really gathered himself, restructured, and come back, and now his stride has become lively and springy again," shared the 1996 world champion while participating in another episode of the Stay on Track podcast. "When a driver feels that a chance is emerging, it's always good. I've always said: let Lewis catch a whiff of victory, and you'll suddenly see a different person. He really needs a car he can rely on, and it seems that he likes this new regulation. It appears that the way downforce provides grip, as well as the balance of the car – all of this suits him. Unlike the previous generation of cars, you can't say that these cars drive like they're on rails; they noticeably guide him around the track." Johnny Herbert, the second participant in the podcast, agrees with Hill: "I saw his comment when he said that he can drive more aggressively in the SF-26. With the ground-effect cars, he didn't have that feeling. Those cars would go out of control as soon as the driver pushed the limits of the technology, so driving them was very challenging. But he has adapted to this year's cars – it's astonishing how much the sensations a driver experiences in the cockpit of a specific car can influence his reactions."