Lewis Hamilton prediction made amid Ferrari F1 2026 verdict

Will Buxton believes Ferrari could be back in contention during the upcoming 2026 Formula 1 season.

Ferrari enjoyed a strong pre-season and set the pace in both the Barcelona shakedown and Bahrain test. The Italian team’s reliability and performance impressed its rivals, while Ferrari also turned heads with some eye-catching innovations on its SF-26 car.

Despite noting the usual caveats that apply to pre-season testing, F1 TV presenter Buxton was full of praise for Ferrari and reckons the Scuderia will bounce back strongly from a miserable and winless 2025.

"I'm going to start with Ferrari because they are the testing Formula 1 world champions, which we know means absolutely nothing at all. But let's start with outright pace. They topped the test,” Buxton told the Up To Speed podcast.

"The regulations have changed this year. Now, every time the drivers hit a straight, they're able to open the rear wing and the front wing, reduce the drag, reduce the downforce, increase topline speed. Every team, that rear wing opens. Ferrari's doesn't just open. It flips 180° and goes upside down.

"Now, what does that do, right? The basics of aerodynamics in Formula 1 are the opposite of wings on aeroplanes. Wings on aeroplanes are designed to provide lift and launch them up into the sky. Wings on Formula 1 cars are upside down and designed to push the cars down onto the track and increase grip.

"So, this wing flipping 180° essentially turns it into an aeroplane wing and induces lift, and that tiny little winglet at the bottom just helps to keep those tyres down on the ground so the rear tyres aren't lifted up into the air. It's incredibly smart. It means the Ferrari is lightning in a straight line.”

In addition to Charles Leclerc setting the fastest time of testing, Ferrari’s rocket practice starts at the Bahrain International Circuit grabbed attention.

“And as we saw from their practice starts, the Ferrari off the line... You've got all the other cars lined up row one, row two, row three. Lewis is back on like row 10. He wasn't even in Bahrain anymore. And by the time they got to turn one, Lewis was P1,” Buxton continued.

"The way it looks at the moment, Ferrari could qualify on the back row of the grid and be leading the grand prix by Turn 1. That's how good that car looks.”

Will Lewis Hamilton get back to his best?

Lewis Hamilton endured a hugely disappointing debut season with Ferrari but Buxton is confident the 2026 regulation overhaul could help the seven-time world champion get back to his prime.

The 41-year-old Briton failed to claim a grand prix podium last season for the first time in his illustrious F1 career and won just two races in the ground-effect era between 2022-2025.

“I’m hoping this plays back into the hands of some of the, should we say old-school drivers, who did not enjoy the last generation of cars,” Buxton said.

“People are saying ‘Lewis is washed, he’s never going to win another race, he’s never going to win another world championship’. I don’t think you lose the skills and abilities that have turned him into a seven-time world champion overnight.

“Because what we saw from 2021 to 2022 was Lewis went from the best in his field, to questionable, overnight. You don’t just lose your ability overnight. That’s the car, for me.”

Speaking on the Chris Moyles Show on Radio X, Buxton added: “I think Lewis Hamilton is going to be winning races again.”