Lewis Hamilton believes the latest updates to Formula One cars have taken the sport back to "how racing should be", adding that this year is "much more fun" than any other in his career.

The new regulations have introduced hybrid engines with a 50-50 split between combustion and electrical power, an emphasis on battery management and a power boost option.

Not everyone has enjoyed the alterations, with four-time world champion Max Verstappen a notable critic, though Ferrari and Mercedes in particular have adjusted well. 

Mercedes duo George Russell and Kimi Antonelli have won the first two races of 2026, but Ferrari are not too far behind with Hamilton and Charles Leclerc behind the wheel. 

Hamilton had a wheel-to-wheel battle over several laps with team-mate Leclerc in China last time out and the Briton said it was the best racing he had ever experienced. 

The seven-time champion said: "That's how racing should be. It should be back and forth, back and forth. It shouldn't be, like, one move is done and then that's it."

Hamilton's comments come as F1 is locked in a debate about the impact of the new car and engine regulations that were introduced this season.

In qualifying, the need to recover electrical energy means the cars are under-powered for portions of laps and the driving challenge has been reduced.

On racing, Hamilton added: "If you go back to karting, it's the same thing. People go back and forth, back and forth, you can never break away.

"No one has ever referred to go-karting as yo-yo racing. It's the best form of racing, and Formula One has not been the best form of racing in a long, long time.

"Out of all the cars that I've driven in 20 years, this is the only car that you can actually follow through at high speed and not completely lose everything that you have [in terms of grip], and you can stay behind."

Hello from Suzuka @LewisHamilton pic.twitter.com/pNLEOiKPDh

— Scuderia Ferrari HP (@ScuderiaFerrari) March 26, 2026

Last time out in China, Hamilton finished on the podium for the first time since his blockbuster switch from Mercedes, following a first season without a top-three finish in his career.

The 41-year-old had a digital detox during the off-season and, looking ahead to this week's race in Japan, he credited his improvement to a change in attitude. 

"It's about not letting all the BS that surrounds me coming out of people's mouths get in the way of knowing who I am and what I'm able to do," Hamilton said. 

"Hopefully you saw that in the last two races, but particularly the last race. I'll continue to try and show up and show that for the rest of the year.

"I've not lost what I've had, and regardless of whether some of you write that, I'll continue to show up, and I'm training harder than ever.

"I was in Tokyo between this race and the last race. I ran, like, 100km.

"I know that none of the drivers I'm racing against have trained as hard as I have and given what I have, especially at my age as well.

"I love that, that I still have that drive to push myself. I was at the hotel and several drivers walked in, and I finished my runs and I knew they'd just be getting up.

"The commitment is there more than ever, and I dedicate absolutely everything I have now to this challenge and to the target that I have."

DRIVERS TO WATCH

Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari

Hamilton reached his first podium with Ferrari in China, ending a run of 27 consecutive races without a top-three finish, the worst streak of his F1 career.

He has the chance to secure back-to-back podiums for the first time since a run of three between Great Britain and Belgium in 2024, and he will fancy his chances here. 

That is because no driver has achieved more wins, pole positions and podiums in Japan than Michael Schumacher (six, eight and nine respectively).

Hamilton is the only driver on the grid who could match him in wins (currently five) and podiums (currently eight), and he will be out to go level with the Ferrari icon. 

Ferrari are also aiming for their first F1 victory since the 2024 Mexican Grand Prix with Carlos Sainz.

Since then, 30 races have been held, a winless streak they share with Aston Martin, Williams, Haas and Alpine. They have not won in Japan since 2004 with Schumacher.

Max Verstappen – Red Bull 

Despite his struggles this season, Verstappen has often thrived at Suzuka, and there would be no better place for the Dutchman to bounce back than here. 

Verstappen has won the last four editions of the Japanese Grand Prix. Only Ayrton Senna in Monaco (from 1989 to 1993) and Hamilton in Spain (from 2017 to 2021) have managed to win five consecutive editions of the same grand prix. 

However, the Red Bull driver has failed to finish in the top five in the first two races of the year (sixth in Australia and retired in China), the fourth time he has done so in F1.

Verstappen previously did so in 2015 (retired and 7th), 2016 (10th and 6th) and 2018 (6th and retired), three of which were during his first four years in the competition.

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

Drivers'

1. George Russell (Mercedes) – 51

2. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 47

3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 34

4. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 33

5. Oliver Bearman (Haas) – 17

Constructors'

1. Mercedes – 98

2. Ferrari – 67

3. McLaren – 18

4. Haas – 17

5. Red Bull – 12