Jacky Ickx believes Lewis Hamilton’s return to competitive form with Ferrari in 2026 reflects more than the impact of Formula 1’s new regulations. The Belgian racing great has pointed to a renewed sense of unity within the team under Fred Vasseur, describing an atmosphere that reminds him of his own time racing for the Scuderia.
Lewis Hamilton arrived at the Belgian Grand Prix third in the drivers’ championship with 147 points, having transformed his form after a difficult first Ferrari campaign. The seven-time world champion is now pursuing Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell at the top of the standings, giving Ferrari a credible presence in the championship fight ahead of round 10 of 22.
Jacky Ickx sees Ferrari unity behind Lewis Hamilton’s improvement
Jacky Ickx told Gazzetta dello Sport that Fred Vasseur required trust to establish a successful project at Ferrari. In Jacky Ickx’s view, the progress made under the French team principal has been encouraging, with the team now carrying the family atmosphere and collective direction he remembered from his own spells at Maranello.
That environment, according to Jacky Ickx, has helped make Lewis Hamilton competitive again. Lewis Hamilton took his first Grand Prix victory for Ferrari in Barcelona and has arrived at Spa only seven points behind George Russell, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli leads the championship on 179 points.
Fred Vasseur has been tasked with returning Ferrari to the top of Formula 1, and the team’s direction has remained a central point of discussion throughout the season. The question of whether Ferrari are genuinely ready to commit fully to a title push has also been examined in the debate over Ferrari’s ambitions under Fred Vasseur.
Lewis Hamilton’s difficult 2025 has given way to a stronger season
Lewis Hamilton endured a frustrating debut year with Ferrari in 2025. The 41-year-old characterised that season as extremely difficult and the worst of his Formula 1 career, finishing seventh in the drivers’ standings without reaching a Grand Prix podium for the first time in 19 seasons.
The switch to the 2026 rules, combined with changes Ferrari have made behind the scenes, has produced a markedly different picture in Lewis Hamilton’s 20th Formula 1 campaign. His Barcelona victory and current points total have placed him ahead of Charles Leclerc in the standings, although Ferrari still face a demanding task in sustaining that momentum across the remaining rounds.
The Belgian Grand Prix presents another important test, particularly with the SF-26’s latest developments under scrutiny. Ferrari’s package is being assessed against the demands of Spa-Francorchamps, as outlined in the team’s Belgian GP technical analysis.
Jacky Ickx enjoys Lewis Hamilton’s battle with Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Jacky Ickx also emphasised how remarkable he found the championship contest between Lewis Hamilton and Andrea Kimi Antonelli. While he felt it was too soon to judge whether Lewis Hamilton could win the title, Jacky Ickx considered the prospect of a 41-year-old seven-time champion taking on a 19-year-old championship leader to be an exceptional Formula 1 story.
Andrea Kimi Antonelli leads George Russell by 25 points, with Lewis Hamilton a further seven behind his Mercedes rival. Charles Leclerc remains another key factor for Ferrari, and has outlined the team’s own outlook in his Spa-Francorchamps expectations ahead of the weekend.
Jacky Ickx is well placed to recognise the weight of Ferrari’s title wait. He drove for the team in 1968 and again from 1970 to 1973, taking six of his eight Formula 1 victories with the Scuderia and finishing runner-up in the 1970 drivers’ championship.
Ferrari had not won a drivers’ title since 1964 during Jacky Ickx’s time at Maranello. Niki Lauda ended that drought in 1975, while Ferrari’s current wait stretches back to Kimi Räikkönen’s championship in 2007. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc are therefore attempting to deliver a title that has remained elusive for nearly two decades.
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