Lewis Hamilton sent uplifting message from ‘romantic’ F1 world champion

Nigel Mansell has backed Lewis Hamilton to win an eighth F1 world championship before he retires from the sport.

Hamilton has experienced a promising start to the 2026 campaign, securing his first podium in Ferrari red at the Chinese Grand Prix. After three rounds, the Briton is fourth in the drivers’ standings, 31 points off Kimi Antonelli in top spot.

After a chastening, podium-less debut campaign at the Scuderia, and three years of frustration to conclude his time at Mercedes after he controversially missed out on the 2021 title to Max Verstappen, Hamilton has made no secret of his deep-rooted desire to win a record-breaking eighth championship, which would put him out on his own ahead of Michael Schumacher.

And ex-Ferrari racer Mansell, the 1992 world champion, believes Hamilton is “reinvigorated” amid new regulations this season and has backed the 41-year-old to finish off his storied career with one final crown.

“I’m going to be romantic, I’d like Lewis to do it,” Mansell told Sky Sports News. “Lando [Norris has] got so many years ahead of him, he can do it again.

“But yeah, I mean, come on Lewis! It’s special. You’ve done so many things, mate. Let’s just finish it off.

“Lewis is fired up again and I’m a huge fan of Lewis. Lewis has had a brilliant career and it's fantastic what he's doing.

"He's now reinvigorated. Ferrari has done a fabulous job over the winter. They're there or thereabouts. Obviously, Mercedes are the forerunners and McLaren is going to be there too.”