By David Tremayne, F1 Hall of Fame journalist. If you were expecting the Lewis Hamilton who turned up in Hungary last year—the gaunt, dejected figure in the red Ferrari suit—you can stop looking. As Hamilton himself said in Australia, “that person’s gone, so you won’t see that person again.” Across the opening races of 2026 he has sounded and looked like a different driver: sharper, more positive, and much closer to the Hamilton fans remember. The draining season that left him emptied out now seems to be behind him. He has found his smile again, rebooted mentally, and returned to the paddock as a refreshed, re-energised competitor.
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