Former Formula 1 driver and analyst Jolyon Palmer has suggested that Lewis Hamilton appears to have regained his confidence and rhythm, noting that the seven-time world champion seems to have his “mojo back” after a recent improvement in form.
Lewis Hamilton’s first season with Scuderia Ferrari has been far from easy. After leaving Mercedes at the end of 2024 following an extraordinary 12-year career filled with titles and victories, the British driver has faced numerous challenges adapting to life at Maranello. Despite joining one of the sport’s most iconic teams, Hamilton is still waiting to secure his first podium finish in red.
While strong performances have been relatively rare this year, Lewis Hamilton has shown flashes of progress. His fourth-place finish in the United States Grand Prix was one of the highlights of his campaign, and he appeared to be on course for a top-three result in Mexico before a 10-second time penalty dashed his hopes. The season as a whole will likely be remembered as a learning year for the partnership between Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari, but recent signs of improvement have given fans and pundits reasons for optimism.
Palmer, speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, observed that Lewis Hamilton’s performance deficit in qualifying has noticeably decreased over the course of the season. He pointed out that although Charles Leclerc often remains slightly ahead on the grid, the margins between the two Ferrari drivers have narrowed considerably. In Mexico, Hamilton’s pace was particularly encouraging, showing that he has rediscovered the sharpness that defined his years of dominance.
The former Renault driver remarked that Hamilton seems revitalized and more in tune with the car, interpreting his improved performances as evidence that the British star senses a podium finish is within reach. Palmer emphasized that Ferrari’s gradual progress with the SF-25 has given Hamilton renewed belief, suggesting that the car’s enhanced competitiveness is helping him find the motivation and focus that had been missing earlier in the campaign.
Palmer further noted that Hamilton is likely doing everything possible to close the gap to Leclerc, pushing to end the year on a high note with a long-awaited podium finish. According to him, the 39-year-old driver is determined to outperform his teammate before the season concludes, seeing any additional success as a bonus after a challenging debut year with Ferrari.
Hamilton will be back in action this weekend at the São Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil, one of the circuits that has played a special role in his career. The Briton has triumphed at Interlagos three times and has often spoken of his deep connection with the passionate Brazilian crowd. This emotional bond, coupled with his impressive track record in São Paulo, could provide exactly the boost he needs to reignite his season.
Palmer expressed confidence that Hamilton’s return to one of his favourite tracks could prove pivotal. He highlighted that Interlagos has consistently brought out Hamilton’s best performances, including the unforgettable 2021 weekend when he fought from the back of the grid to victory after a fierce battle with Max Verstappen. The former driver predicted that Hamilton’s enthusiasm for the venue, combined with Ferrari’s recent progress, might allow him to mount a strong challenge against Charles Leclerc and potentially return to the podium for the first time in 2025.
As Hamilton prepares for his first Brazilian Grand Prix in Ferrari colours, expectations are building. Both the team and its fans hope that the combination of a historically strong circuit, a motivated driver, and incremental improvements in performance will finally deliver the result that has so far eluded the partnership between Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari.
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