Lewis Hamilton’s first season with Ferrari was filled with questions, scrutiny and constant speculation, but the picture looks very different in 2026. After enduring a challenging debut campaign in red, the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion has re-established himself as one of the leading forces on the grid, producing a series of performances that are reportedly earning admiration not only from fans and pundits, but also from his direct rivals.
The latest evidence arrived at the British Grand Prix, where Lewis Hamilton secured another podium finish in front of his home crowd at Silverstone. The result extended his extraordinary record at the historic circuit, delivering his 15th career podium there while also marking his fifth top-three finish of the current Formula 1 season.
More importantly, the Silverstone weekend reinforced the growing belief that Lewis Hamilton has fully adapted to Ferrari’s current package. His performances have become increasingly consistent throughout the year, allowing him to emerge as one of the leading contenders in the Drivers’ Championship after a difficult 2025 campaign that had prompted widespread speculation about his long-term future in Formula 1.
Those retirement rumors have now faded almost completely. Instead, attention has shifted toward Lewis Hamilton’s renewed confidence and the possibility that he could remain a championship contender for several more seasons, with the British driver already looking ahead to the opportunities presented by the 2027 regulations.
Formula 1 rivals are reportedly impressed by Lewis Hamilton’s progress
According to respected Brazilian Formula 1 journalist Julianne Cerasoli, Lewis Hamilton’s recent performances have not gone unnoticed inside the paddock.
Speaking during an episode of her In the F1 Paddock series following the British Grand Prix, Cerasoli revealed that she had spoken with several Formula 1 drivers during the Silverstone weekend while discussing Ferrari’s surprisingly strong pace around one of the fastest circuits on the calendar.
Silverstone has traditionally rewarded cars with excellent straight-line speed and aerodynamic efficiency, making Ferrari’s competitiveness one of the biggest surprises of the weekend. Curious about the reaction inside the paddock, Cerasoli asked several drivers whether they had expected Ferrari to perform so strongly.
Although the conversations remained unofficial, she explained that multiple competitors privately admitted they had been particularly impressed by Lewis Hamilton’s performances throughout the 2026 season. According to Cerasoli, several drivers believe the current technical regulations suit Lewis Hamilton’s driving style exceptionally well, allowing him to extract performance that perhaps was not consistently visible during his first Ferrari campaign.
She also suggested that Lewis Hamilton’s current level is creating additional pressure elsewhere on the grid. As a driver with seven world championships and decades of experience fighting for titles, Lewis Hamilton brings a level of consistency and composure that younger competitors know cannot be underestimated once he finds momentum.
Experience is becoming one of Ferrari’s biggest strengths
One of the most significant aspects of Lewis Hamilton’s resurgence has been his remarkable consistency across different circuit characteristics. Whether facing high-speed venues like Silverstone or more technical layouts earlier in the season, the Ferrari driver has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to maximize results even when the SF-26 has not been the outright fastest car.
That consistency is often what separates multiple world champions from the rest of the field. Rather than relying solely on outright speed, Lewis Hamilton has built much of his success throughout his Formula 1 career by minimizing mistakes, adapting quickly to changing race conditions and consistently scoring valuable championship points.
Those qualities appear to be resurfacing as Ferrari continues refining the SF-26, giving the Italian team renewed optimism that both Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc can remain firmly involved in the championship battle throughout the remainder of the season.
For Ferrari, having two drivers capable of consistently fighting near the front represents a major advantage. While Charles Leclerc has once again demonstrated his raw speed with several outstanding performances, Lewis Hamilton’s growing confidence provides the Scuderia with another genuine title contender capable of capitalizing whenever opportunities arise.
The championship fight is becoming increasingly intriguing
Despite Lewis Hamilton’s impressive run of form, the Drivers’ Championship remains led by Mercedes. Andrea Kimi Antonelli currently occupies the top position in the standings, while teammate George Russell has also maintained a consistently high level of performance throughout the season.
Lewis Hamilton currently sits third in the championship, only 32 points behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli. While that gap remains significant, it is far from insurmountable with several Grands Prix still remaining on the calendar.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli himself has previously acknowledged the challenge of competing against a driver of Lewis Hamilton’s calibre. The young Mercedes driver understands that experience can become a decisive factor as the championship enters its most demanding phase, particularly when pressure begins to intensify during the closing races of the season.
Having spent years competing for world championships, Lewis Hamilton knows exactly how to manage long title campaigns. That experience could prove invaluable if Ferrari continues improving its competitiveness over the coming months.
Another important test awaits Ferrari
The next round of the Formula 1 World Championship is widely expected to favor Mercedes on paper, with the characteristics of the upcoming circuit appearing well suited to the strengths of the Silver Arrows package.
That presents another important opportunity to evaluate Ferrari’s recent progress. If Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc can once again challenge Mercedes despite the theoretical disadvantage, it would provide further evidence that Ferrari’s recent development programme is producing genuine gains rather than circuit-specific improvements.
With momentum building, confidence growing and respect reportedly increasing throughout the Formula 1 paddock, Lewis Hamilton now finds himself in a position few predicted only a year ago. Instead of defending his place on the grid, the seven-time World Champion has once again become one of the drivers every rival must closely watch as the battle for both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships continues to intensify.
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