Lewis Hamilton’s influence inside Ferrari has played an important role in turning the seven-time world champion from a struggling newcomer into a genuine contender for the 2026 Formula 1 title, according to 1996 champion Damon Hill.
After enduring a difficult first season with the Scuderia in 2025, Hamilton has responded with his strongest run of form since 2021. The British driver sits second in the championship after claiming one victory and four additional podium finishes, leaving him 50 points behind Mercedes leader Kimi Antonelli.
That recovery has also helped bring Ferrari back into the championship conversation. The Maranello team is pursuing Mercedes in both standings, although team principal Frédéric Vasseur has acknowledged in his Ferrari mid-season assessment that further improvement is required.
Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari transformation revives title ambitions
Hamilton’s current position represents a major change from his debut campaign in red. The 41-year-old struggled for much of 2025 and completed the season without securing a podium, making his results during the opening half of 2026 particularly significant.
With a victory and five podium appearances in total, the Briton has placed himself within range of Antonelli and revived his pursuit of a record eighth drivers’ championship. His deficit remains substantial, but Ferrari’s improved competitiveness has given him an opportunity to apply pressure during the second half of the campaign.
The points gap might also have been smaller without several costly incidents and penalties. An analysis of the 20 points Hamilton lost during Ferrari’s title challenge illustrates how much remains at stake as the season progresses.
Damon Hill highlights Hamilton’s influence at Ferrari
Speaking to the official Formula 1 website, Damon Hill described Hamilton as a natural competitor whose determination makes it difficult for him to accept a secondary role or reduce his effort when results are below expectations.
Hill argued that Hamilton’s response to the problems of 2025 was to work intensively throughout the winter and establish more clearly what he required from Ferrari’s car. Rather than simply adapting to the team’s existing methods, the seven-time champion pushed the organisation to produce machinery that better suited his needs.
In Hill’s assessment, that approach reflects the considerable authority Hamilton carries because of his record, reputation and status within Formula 1. Ferrari committed heavily to signing him, and Hamilton has used that position to influence how the team operates and protect his own ability to perform at the highest level.
The former world champion maintained that Hamilton was right to exercise that influence. Instead of passively accepting a difficult situation, the Ferrari driver used his experience to shape his working environment and strengthen the relationship between himself and the team.
Winter collaboration helps Ferrari unlock Hamilton’s performance
A significant part of the turnaround developed during the winter break. Hamilton worked closely with Ferrari as the team shaped its 2026 car around his requirements, while engineers responded to the feedback gathered during his challenging first year at Maranello.
The resulting progress has allowed him to produce a level of performance not seen consistently since his final title battle in 2021. His relationship with the Scuderia has continued to develop, replacing many of the difficulties that defined his first campaign with a far more productive partnership.
Hill believes the results demonstrate that Hamilton’s method is working. The British driver’s competitiveness has returned, Ferrari has re-emerged as a championship challenger and the possibility of an eighth title is once again part of the wider Formula 1 discussion.
Ferrari faces a decisive second half of the season
Hamilton will still need to overcome Antonelli’s 50-point advantage, while Ferrari must maintain the development and execution required to challenge Mercedes consistently. Nevertheless, his record after Formula 1’s traditional summer interval adds further relevance to the importance of Hamilton’s post-break form.
The contrast between his two Ferrari seasons is already considerable. A year after failing to reach the podium, Hamilton has become the closest challenger to the championship leader and a central figure in the Scuderia’s revival.
For Hill, the transformation is not simply the product of a faster car. It also reflects Hamilton’s refusal to accept the limitations he encountered during 2025, his willingness to define what he needed from Ferrari and the influence he possesses to turn those demands into meaningful organisational change.
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