Ferrari once questioned Lewis Hamilton’s future – now he is leading the revival. Ferrari concerns over Lewis Hamilton vanish after dramatic comeback season.

Lewis Hamilton’s remarkable Ferrari turnaround: from 2025 doubts to a 2026 title contender

Just a few months ago, serious questions were being asked about Lewis Hamilton’s future at Ferrari. Today, those concerns feel like a distant memory.

The seven-time Formula 1 World Champion arrived in Maranello carrying enormous expectations after his blockbuster move from Mercedes. However, his first campaign in red turned into one of the most challenging seasons of his illustrious career, creating uncertainty both inside and outside the team.

While Ferrari remained committed to the long-term project, reports suggest that the scale of Lewis Hamilton’s struggles during the 2025 season left some within the organisation deeply concerned about his mental state heading into the winter break.

A debut season few expected

When Lewis Hamilton signed a multi-year Ferrari contract believed to run until at least the end of 2027, many expected the partnership to deliver immediate success. Instead, the 2025 campaign produced a series of disappointing statistics that few could have predicted.

Despite his vast experience and record-breaking career achievements, Lewis Hamilton failed to secure a single podium finish throughout the season. It was a result that surprised not only Ferrari but also many observers throughout the Formula 1 paddock.

The British driver struggled to find confidence in the SF-25, particularly over a single lap. He missed Q3 on nine separate occasions and was consistently outperformed by Charles Leclerc in qualifying and race weekends. Across the season, Charles Leclerc held the upper hand in approximately 80 percent of the competitive sessions contested by the Ferrari drivers.

Even more unusually, Lewis Hamilton completed five race weekends without scoring a single point, a statistic not seen in his Formula 1 career since 2012.

The season finale in Abu Dhabi summed up many of the challenges he faced. Although Lewis Hamilton recovered from 16th on the grid to finish eighth, the weekend also marked his third consecutive Q1 elimination. A rare crash during final practice further highlighted the difficulties he experienced adapting to Ferrari’s machinery.

Ferrari’s concerns during the winter

According to reports, the atmosphere surrounding the Briton at the end of 2025 was one of genuine concern. The issue was never his driving ability or his work ethic. Instead, questions reportedly centred on his confidence and motivation after such a difficult campaign.

Sources suggested that morale within the Lewis Hamilton camp had fallen dramatically, creating uncertainty over how he would respond during the off-season.

However, when the British driver returned to Maranello ahead of the 2026 season, Ferrari personnel reportedly noticed an immediate change. Team members described a renewed energy and determination, with Lewis Hamilton appearing far more relaxed, focused and confident than he had been just weeks earlier.

The contrast between the driver who ended the season in Abu Dhabi and the one who returned in January was reportedly striking.

A transformed Lewis Hamilton emerges

The change in attitude quickly translated into results on track. Long before claiming his breakthrough Ferrari victory at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, Lewis Hamilton had already demonstrated clear signs of progress.

Three podium finishes in the opening six races established him as one of the leading contenders in the championship battle. More importantly, he consistently extracted performance from the SF-26 across different circuit types and conditions.

Unlike the previous year, qualifying became one of his strengths. The seven-time F1 world champion maintained a perfect Q3 appearance record and even managed to outperform Charles Leclerc on a Saturday, a noteworthy achievement considering that many regard Charles Leclerc as one of the strongest qualifiers in modern Formula 1.

Consistency has also become one of the defining features of his campaign. Lewis Hamilton remains the only driver on the grid to have scored points in every Grand Prix so far this season, underlining both his reliability and his ability to maximise opportunities.

Confidence returns as title hopes grow

Observers working within the paddock have noted that the transformation extends beyond lap times and results. The difference can reportedly be seen in Lewis Hamilton’s overall demeanour, from his interactions with team personnel to his body language during race weekends.

Those subtle details often provide valuable insight into a driver’s confidence level, and in Lewis Hamilton’s case they point to a competitor who has rediscovered belief in both himself and the project around him.

The resurgence is also crucial for Ferrari’s ambitions. With Charles Leclerc continuing to provide strong pace and Lewis Hamilton delivering consistent results, the Scuderia now possesses one of the strongest driver pairings on the Formula 1 grid.

Only a few months ago, discussions focused on whether Lewis Hamilton could recover from the disappointment of his debut Ferrari season. Today, the conversation has shifted dramatically.

Instead of questioning his future, many are now asking whether Lewis Hamilton can lead Ferrari’s charge toward a world championship and potentially secure the elusive eighth Formula 1 title that has remained out of reach for so long.