Former Ferrari driver Eddie Irvine has warned that the apparent Formula 1 resurgence for Lewis Hamilton may be temporary after being “outclassed” by Charles Leclerc in the Japanese Grand Prix.
The Brit has got 2026 off to a positive start, after suffering a nightmarish opening year as a Ferrari driver in 2025.
A competitive fourth place in Melbourne was followed by a maiden Scuderia podium in China, which he thrillingly raced Leclerc for in the latter stages.
But at Suzuka, the tide turned towards the Monegasque, who made use of the Safety Car during the race to take third place, with Hamilton struggling by comparison, finishing in sixth.
Last year, Leclerc was able to extract far more than the petulant SF-25 car than Hamilton, taking an impressive haul of seven podium finishes, in what was the worst season of the seven-time World Champion’s career.
Irvine is all too aware of being at the coalface as a Ferrari driver, having represented the Maranello-based squad with Michael Schumacher between 1996 and 1999.
And the Ulsterman, speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, stated that despite Mercedes’ current dominance, the “red team” look in a good position to take a victory this season.
“It’s always very complicated for the red team,” the four-time Grand Prix-winner said.
“The problem is the distance from the F1 world, which is the United Kingdom. Compared to last year, however, I think they can achieve at least one win.
“I wouldn’t take it [Hamilton’s podium] for granted. In China, he got on the podium for the first time with Ferrari, but that’s his circuit.
“In Japan, however, he was outclassed by Charles Leclerc all weekend.”
What Motorsport Week thinks: Constant improvements will be key to Lewis Hamilton resurgence
Time will tell if Hamilton is able to maintain the form he showed in the first two races, which also came with a far more positive attitude than the one he publicly conveyed in 2025.
There is still the outstanding issue of awaiting the start of Cedric Michel-Grosjean’s tenure as his race engineer, as Hamilton continues to be given the services of Carlo Santi, the former race engineer of Ferrari legend Kimi Raikkonen.
If Hamilton can continue to enjoy some clearer communication than he did with Riccardo Adami, and if Ferrari is utilising the enforced four-week break to improve on its overall performance gap to Mercedes, then if it is able to take at least one win as Irvine suggested, then who would bet against it being Hamilton to be the one to take it?
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