Lewis Hamilton Celebrates ‘Go-Kart Style’ Duel with Leclerc as F1 2026 Rules Transform On-Track Combat

Lewis Hamilton praises the 2026 F1 rules after a fierce Chinese GP battle with Charles Leclerc. Discover why he calls it the "best racing" of his career.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 22, 2026, 10:48 AM EDT

Source: Information for this article was sourced from PlanetF1

The Dawn of a New Racing Era

The 2026 Chinese Grand Prix served as a definitive proof of concept for Formula 1’s latest technical overhaul. Speaking after a high-intensity race in Shanghai, Lewis Hamilton expressed genuine enthusiasm for the new regulations, which prioritize closer following and mechanical grip over aerodynamic dependency. Hamilton, who engaged in a multi-lap scrap with Charles Leclerc and Mercedes’ George Russell, noted that the cars now behave more like high-performance karts. The ability to follow within a "thin piece of paper" without losing significant downforce has, according to Hamilton, restored a level of wheel-to-wheel respect and excitement that had been missing in previous eras.

A Record-Extending Podium for the Scuderia

The battle for the final step of the podium became the highlight of the afternoon as first-time winner Kimi Antonelli checked out at the front. Once George Russell cleared the Ferrari duo, Hamilton and Leclerc were left to settle the intra-team hierarchy in a "ding-dong" battle that captivated the Shanghai crowd. Hamilton eventually emerged victorious, securing his 203rd career podium and his first in the iconic scarlet of Ferrari. The result marks a significant milestone in his transition to the Italian outfit, proving that despite the team’s straight-line speed deficit compared to Mercedes, the SF-26 remains a potent weapon in combat.

Strategic Complexity of the 2026 Power Units

The 2026 season has introduced a near 50/50 power split between the internal combustion engine and electrical deployment, fundamentally changing how overtakes are executed. Hamilton admitted that mastering the nuances of battery harvesting, deployment, and "super clipping" has been one of the most meticulous challenges of his career. Unlike previous years, where overtaking was largely a function of DRS and tire life, the current formula requires drivers to be "meticulous" about energy management. Hamilton noted that the true nature of this challenge only became apparent during the initial sprint and grand prix sessions of the season, rather than in pre-season testing.