Hamilton faces renewed backlash after being 'outclassed' by Leclerc at Suzuka

The Brit has certainly started the 2026 season with a different edge compared to his difficult first year at Ferrari, securing his maiden podium in red in convincing fashion in China.

However, in Suzuka the seven-time world champion was unable to replicate that performance, trailing his team-mate throughout the weekend. In the end, Leclerc went on to claim a podium, holding off a much quicker Russell and his W17 behind.

"I wouldn’t take it for granted. In China, he secured his first Ferrari podium, but that’s his track. In Japan, though, he was outclassed by Leclerc all weekend," the former Ferrari driver told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The discussion then shifted to a broader view of Ferrari, who have also begun 2026 on an upward trajectory, establishing themselves as the closest challengers behind Mercedes - a fairly convincing turnaround given last season’s disappointment.

Asked whether the Prancing Horse has a real chance of returning to winning ways, Irvine added: "It’s always very complicated for Ferrari. The issue is the distance from Formula 1’s epicentre in the United Kingdom. Compared to last year, though, I think they can take at least one win."

Through his Instagram stories, the seven-time world champion, fresh from his first Ferrari podium in China, admitted that Suzuka had been far from the race he was hoping for. The weekend proved a difficult one, with the Briton unable to match the pace of his teammate at the front and left to reflect on a performance that fell short of expectations.

Despite that, he made it clear the focus is already on regrouping and responding. Drawing on the lessons learned across the opening three rounds of the season, he plans to return to the factory with the team to analyse the data in detail and identify areas for improvement.

With the April break now offering a crucial window to reset, the emphasis is on using that time to build momentum ahead of the championship’s return in Miami, as both driver and team look to take a step forward and get their campaign back on track.