Lewis Hamilton’s impressive turnaround with Ferrari is attracting growing admiration throughout the Formula 1 paddock, with former Ferrari driver René Arnoux among the latest figures to praise the seven-time world champion’s impact on the Scuderia’s revival.
After a challenging debut campaign together in 2025, Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton appear to have finally unlocked the potential of their partnership. A combination of technical improvements, stronger race execution and increasing confidence between driver and team has transformed Ferrari from an occasional podium contender into a genuine threat at the front of the grid.
The progress has been particularly evident over the last few races. While the seven-time world champion celebrated his first podium finish for Ferrari earlier in the season in China, the real breakthrough arrived during the North American and European rounds. Since the Canadian Grand Prix, the British driver has delivered an exceptional sequence of results, finishing second in consecutive races before securing an emotional maiden Ferrari victory at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.
That victory represented far more than just another race win. It marked Lewis Hamilton’s first success in Ferrari colours and reinforced the growing belief that the Maranello team has found a competitive direction capable of sustaining a championship challenge throughout the remainder of the season.
As a result, Lewis Hamilton has dramatically reduced the gap to championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli. With Mercedes continuing to encounter reliability concerns at crucial moments, Ferrari has taken advantage by consistently scoring strong points and building momentum at exactly the right stage of the campaign.
The recent performances have also helped silence many of the doubts that emerged during the difficult early phase of Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari adventure. Questions about whether age had diminished the Briton’s speed and racecraft have gradually disappeared as he has delivered a series of measured, intelligent and highly competitive drives.
Equally significant is Ferrari’s progress on the technical side. The team’s aggressive development programme has produced immediate gains, particularly after the major upgrade package introduced in recent races. Engineers in Maranello are understood to be preparing further developments for upcoming events, possibly even at the Austrian Grand Prix, highlighting the team’s determination to maintain pressure on Mercedes and remain firmly in the title fight.
René Arnoux admitted that both Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari had exceeded his expectations during the Barcelona weekend. The former Ferrari driver acknowledged that he had initially wondered whether Lewis Hamilton might have lost some of the qualities that made him one of Formula 1’s most successful drivers, but he now believes the Briton has once again demonstrated the characteristics of a true champion.
According to René Arnoux, the Briton has embraced a leadership role within the team, helping to strengthen belief inside Ferrari while simultaneously winning over the passionate Tifosi. He also pointed to Ferrari’s significant technical progress, noting that the recent upgrades have clearly delivered the performance gains the team was hoping for.
The Frenchman further suggested that the Formula 1 championship remains wide open and that Ferrari now possesses all the ingredients required to challenge Mercedes over the remainder of the season. In his view, the combination of Lewis Hamilton’s experience, Ferrari’s development trajectory and the remaining races on the calendar could produce a fascinating battle for both victories and championship positions.
With Lewis Hamilton operating at his highest level since joining Ferrari and the Scuderia continuing to find performance through upgrades, confidence is growing that the team’s long-awaited return to sustained title contention may finally be becoming a reality. If Ferrari can maintain its current rate of progress, the fight against Mercedes could become one of the defining stories of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
Leave a Reply