Damon Hill weighs in on Lewis Hamilton’s chances of claiming another F1 championship with Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari Struggles Highlight Challenges in Pursuit of Eighth F1 Title

Lewis Hamilton joined Scuderia Ferrari with the ambition of securing an eighth Formula 1 world championship, yet his debut season with the Italian team is shaping up to conclude underwhelmingly. Ferrari appeared resigned to finishing fourth in the Constructors’ Championship following a difficult Qatar Grand Prix, which proved disappointing for both Lewis Hamilton and his teammate Charles Leclerc.

Lewis Hamilton has struggled in qualifying throughout recent races, failing to advance past Q1 in each of his last three attempts. This recurring issue has consistently placed him at a disadvantage from the very start of each Grand Prix weekend, making it increasingly difficult to compete for podiums. In Qatar, Hamilton was unable to score any points, while Charles Leclerc only managed to narrowly claim points in both the Sprint Race and the main race on Sunday.

Since moving from Mercedes over the winter break, Lewis Hamilton has been working hard to adapt to the unique demands of life at Ferrari. Despite the ongoing difficulties, there are already early indications that Hamilton may not be entirely impressed with Ferrari’s plans for their 2026 car. Nevertheless, 1996 Formula 1 World Champion Damon Hill has expressed confidence that, if Ferrari can produce a race-winning car next season, Lewis Hamilton still has the potential to add another championship to his remarkable career.

During an interview with The Times at the Qatar Grand Prix weekend, Damon Hill commented on Hamilton’s current situation. He described the season as “brutal” for Hamilton, noting that the British driver has faced continuous challenges since the Abu Dhabi race. Hill suggested that while Lewis Hamilton has been forced to push deeply to cope with Ferrari’s struggles, the right car next season could still enable him to win another championship. Hill emphasized that Hamilton might have only one more realistic opportunity to claim another title, adding that if Ferrari’s 2026 car is not competitive, it could become increasingly difficult for the seven-time world champion to continue chasing championships at the highest level.

Lewis Hamilton ’s frustration was evident during the Qatar Grand Prix weekend. The race itself was marred by a collision between Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly, which Hamilton indicated had ruined his chances of scoring points from the ninth row of the grid. The safety car deployment on lap seven prompted nearly every driver, except McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri along with Alpine’s Esteban Ocon, to pit simultaneously. This left teams with limited strategic flexibility. Hamilton was observed on the team radio seeking clarification about how many positions he had lost as Ferrari double-stacked their drivers in the pit lane, resulting in him being held behind Leclerc while waiting for a tyre change.

Following the race, Lewis Hamilton reportedly sent a clear signal to Ferrari regarding their preparations for the 2026 season. Sources suggest that some within the team have been critical of Hamilton’s proactive suggestions, despite the fact that he had already been providing guidance to Ferrari as early as the Belgian Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton’s extensive experience in winning championships and competing in a high-performance environment surpasses that of many of Ferrari’s current technical and operational staff. Many of Ferrari’s personnel have moved on since the team last won a title in 2008, while the Briton brings a wealth of knowledge from Mercedes’ dominant era throughout the 2010s, including insights into car development, race strategy, and championship management.

As Lewis Hamilton continues to adapt to Ferrari, the 2025 season has exposed the significant gap between potential and current performance. While the season may end without the desired results, the combination of Hamilton’s experience and Ferrari’s engineering capabilities could still lay the foundation for a successful campaign in 2026—provided the Italian team addresses the challenges highlighted this year.