According to Riccardo Patrese, Lewis Hamilton could be the man to beat in 2026.

For the first time in his 18-year career in the pinnacle of motorsport, the seven-time World Champion missed out on a Grand Prix podium in a dreadful debut season with Ferrari.

However, the Brit made a positive start to the 2026 season, topping the timing sheets during the week-long test in Barcelona, and Patrese believes more is to come from Hamilton

"I think Lewis Hamilton can do it. He has to start thinking that he can be competitive and win races. And then, if he does that, he can start aiming for an eighth world title,” the Italian explained.

Talk around the new regulations and the power units continue t ramp up after Ferrari, Audi and Honda have called upon the 'trick' reportedly used by Mercedes and Red Bull to be banned.

A loophole has possibly been found in regard to compression ratio, with Mercedes and Red Bull engines designed to reach a higher limit and produce more power, all while staying in the rules.

GPblog understands that the efforts from Ferrari, Audi and Honda have so far proven unsuccessful, with just a month to go until the Australian Grand Prix gets the 2026 season underway.