Motorsport legend Mario Andretti said it recently during an exclusive conversation with GPblog that of course Hamilton can become champion for the reocrd eighth time, the American said: “I don’t think you can ever write him off. He’s simply so talented.

That mental state and motivation Andretti mentioned seemed to be tested to the limit, especially in the second half of last season. With a difficult-to-drive Ferrari, Hamilton could hardly impress, and after yet another disastrous result, he would trudge through the paddock, crestfallen. It seemed only a matter of time before the former champion would call it quits as speculation about his future grew following a difficult transitional period following his more to Ferrari.

However, Hamilton is no quitter. After a short vacation, the Brit looks like a different person during the first test week in Barcelona. Not only was he the fastest driver, Hamilton was in good spirits as well - for what seems like the first time in ages.

“Yeah, it was a really good week,” he said. “I worked hard over the winter. But the team also implemented changes in the run-up to the test.”

Without mentioning Riccardo Adami by name, Hamilton is surely referring to his former race engineer. It’s known that the Brit had a strained relationship with him as they struggled to communicate during several races last season, contributing to weaker performances.

It’s still unknown who will be Adami’s permanent successor, but Hamilton already appears to be in a better headspace. He seems to find Ferrari’s SF-26 easier to drive, and this might be the car with which he can get back to winning Grands Prix.

If Hamilton can carry his good feeling into the season and he has solid machinery at his disposal, then the competition has been warned. Even though Hamilton is now 41, a happy Hamilton is a driver who could become a factor to be reckoned with again - and that acts as a warning for Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and George Russell, who probably felt the seven-time world champion was no longer a threat.