Former F1 driver revises opinion on Lewis Hamilton: eighth title is a mental game. Riccardo Patrese expresses confidence in Lewis Hamilton.

Riccardo Patrese believes in Ferrari and, above all, in Lewis Hamilton. The British driver’s first season at Maranello was far from his best. He needs to recover, find his rhythm, and push himself to return to winning ways. This essentially summarized the opinion the former Italian Formula 1 driver expressed last October regarding Ferrari’s lead driver.

Just a few months later, and well before the full potential of the 2026 cars has been revealed, Riccardo Patrese’s perspective has shifted slightly. He no longer urges the British driver to do anything to improve his own situation or that of Ferrari.

“Hamilton can do it,” Riccardo Patrese’s opinion

Riccardo Patrese now believes Lewis Hamilton can finish his career with dignity, fighting for victories and the world championship, leaving the 2025 Formula 1 season as a distant memory. “I truly believe Lewis Hamilton can do it,” the Italian said. According to him, the secret lies entirely in Lewis Hamilton’s mindset: “He must believe he is still competitive and capable of winning races. If he does that, then he can also aim for an eighth world championship.”

For Riccardo Patrese, this is not an impossible dream. As he stated in October, Lewis Hamilton no longer has many opportunities to add another title—the one that would place him alone at the top of the world—before hanging up his helmet.

Age is advancing (he just turned 41), and the young drivers are extremely strong. Yet Riccardo Patrese appears confident: “If he comes back like he was before, anything can happen. He has always shown he knows how to seize opportunities. He can do it if he regains the confidence he lost in 2025,” he concluded, according to GPBlog.com.

The shift in Riccardo Patrese’s stance highlights the growing anticipation surrounding Lewis Hamilton’s second year in red. While the physical demands of F1 are relentless for a 41-year-old, the consensus in the paddock seems to be that if the SF-26 provides the tools, the Briton’s mental fortitude remains the deciding factor in his quest for that elusive eighth world championship.