41-year-old Hamilton has seemingly bounced back from a torrid debut season with Ferrari, after becoming the first driver in 44 years to fail to score a Grand Prix podium in their first full season with the Scuderia.

In 2026, however, Hamilton has looked far more comfortable in the new generation of F1 cars, fiercely battling teammate Charles Leclerc in Shanghai and Suzuka, and finally securing his first Grand Prix podium in red.

For Mansell, nicknamed 'Il Leone' by the Tifosi after his two-year stint at Ferrari in 1989-90, Hamilton is "fired up" and ready to win races, particularly at the British Grand Prix in what would be an historic feat.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, Mansell shared his hopes that Hamilton could finally get his hands on that eighth world title at Ferrari.

"I’m going to be romantic, I’d like Lewis to do it,” Mansell said.

“Lando [Norris has] got so many years ahead of him, he can do it again. But yeah, I mean, come on Lewis! It’s special. You’ve done so many things, mate. Let’s just finish it off.”

Mansell, who won his sole world title with Williams in 1992, was also asked on who he was backing for the win at Silverstone in July, and unsurprisingly, the 72-year-old threw his support behind Hamilton, who will be chasing his 10th British Grand Prix victory of his career.

"Odds on. Lewis is fired up again and I’m a huge fan of Lewis. Lewis has had a brilliant career and it's fantastic what he's doing.

"He's now reinvigorated. Ferrari has done a fabulous job over the winter. They're there or thereabouts. Obviously Mercedes are the forerunners and McLaren is going to be there too."

Mansell also hopes for a "tweak" in the F1 regulations prior to Silverstone, which could see an "epic" with multiple possible winners.

“I think when then they tweak the regulations and by the time we get to Silverstone, it’ll be very close.

"I’m hoping for an epic race and there’s six or seven drivers that can win, which is lovely.”

Mansell also offered his view on the much maligned 2026 regulations, while also defending Max Verstappen's scathing criticism of the new rules.

When asked on the speculation Verstappen could leave F1 in 2027, Mansell said: "No, no, no. Max is voicing his opinion. He’s a class act. He’s an incredible world champion. What he’s done over the last five years is astonishing. He almost won the championship last year."

On whether Verstappen has been too harsh against the 2026 regulations, the British legend added: "He is quite rightly voicing how he feels. Perhaps he’s been a bit too strong with it."

"But Lando and a lot of other drivers, and if you speak to Oliver Bearman about what happened to him in Japan, [the rules] just need to be tweaked."