Key Lewis Hamilton question raised after Ferrari 'blunder'

British racing driver Jamie Chadwick has questioned whether Lewis Hamilton had the performance to fight Mercedes in Melbourne, if not for Ferrari's "strategy blunder".

The seven-time world champion started the season-opening Australian GP from seventh on the grid but was third by the end of the first lap.

Hamilton was in genuine podium contention, with the smaller, lighter cars introduced as part of the new power unit regulations appearing to suit his driving style.

Back in testing, the 41-year-old was one of the first to criticise the 50/50 power unit split between electrical power and internal combustion, but he has since become a fan of the new rules.

Earlier this year, Hamilton declared that the new regulations were "completely against what Formula 1 is about", before conceding in Australia that "it was a really fun race and it felt good".

The new regulations feature cars shortened by over 200mm in wheelbase and reduced in weight by more than 30kg, alongside the removal of DRS in favour of active aerodynamics.

It is a car that requires significant input from the driver due to the complexity of electrification and the need to harvest and deploy energy.

Hamilton has adapted quickly, while Ferrari's SF-26 is a car in whose development the Briton has played a significant role.

Unfortunately, the Scuderia's decision not to pit Hamilton or Charles Leclerc during two virtual safety cars in Melbourne removed any chance of fighting Mercedes, but Chadwick wonders what might have happened had the strategic error not been made.

"I think this strategic element suits Lewis," Chadwick told Sky F1. "And as well, they’re a smaller car for Lewis.

"He seems to adapt well, and his driving style seems to have adapted well to it already. He's got a one-lap master in Charles, but in the race he was right there.

"And if they hadn't made that strategy blunder, it would have been interesting to see if he could've done something about those Mercedes last weekend."