Jenson Button believes Lewis Hamilton has rediscovered the form and confidence that appeared to be missing during his difficult first season with Ferrari. The 2009 Formula 1 world champion has praised his former McLaren team-mate’s transformation in 2026, with Hamilton now sitting second in the Drivers’ Championship and firmly involved in the title fight.
Ferrari’s latest weekend at the Hungaroring did not deliver the result Hamilton or the team expected, but his attitude in the paddock offered a striking contrast to the dejected figure seen at the same circuit 12 months earlier. Despite the setbacks that contributed to his fifth-place finish in the 2026 Hungarian Grand Prix, the seven-time world champion spoke with pride about the progress he has made since last year.
Jenson Button recognises Lewis Hamilton again at Ferrari
During a recent interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Jenson Button was asked whether Lewis Hamilton could complete his recovery by claiming an eighth Formula 1 world title. Button indicated that Hamilton’s history of producing major comebacks meant such a possibility could not be dismissed.
The former world champion admitted that Hamilton’s difficulties in 2025 had surprised him because the driver he saw struggling at Ferrari bore little resemblance to the competitor he had followed for many years. Button knew Hamilton’s capabilities both as a rival and from their three seasons together at McLaren, making the extent of his problems particularly unexpected.
However, Button explained that his view changed as soon as the 2026 campaign began. From the opening races, he felt that the familiar version of Hamilton had returned and that the British driver had finally established his own voice inside Ferrari.
Button stressed that achieving that level of influence at Maranello was especially challenging alongside Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque driver has spent many years with the Scuderia, understands the organisation in detail and entered Hamilton’s arrival with extensive knowledge of how the team operates.
Lewis Hamilton remains in the 2026 F1 title fight
After 11 rounds, Hamilton occupies second place in the championship, 50 points behind Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli. The season has now reached its summer break, but Button believes the Ferrari driver remains capable of fighting for the crown during the second half of the 2026 Formula 1 calendar.
Max Verstappen demonstrated during the previous season that recovering from a deficit of that size is possible. Hamilton therefore remains within reach of the championship lead, although closing a 50-point gap will require Ferrari to build on the progress that has produced the Briton’s strongest results for the team so far.
The Hungarian Grand Prix represented a setback to that objective. Hamilton felt Ferrari had been capable of fighting for victory before penalties, strategic decisions and execution problems compromised the weekend. Nevertheless, his reaction was very different from the aftermath of the 2025 race, when he publicly suggested that the Scuderia should replace him following a disastrous performance.
One year later, the seven-time world champion instead highlighted his pride in recovering from that low point. Hamilton acknowledged that Ferrari’s latest Hungarian Grand Prix opportunity had gone wrong, but his broader confidence and recent results underline the progress identified by Button.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc closely matched after 11 rounds
The internal contest between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc also illustrates how much the balance at Ferrari has changed. After 11 Grands Prix, little separates the team-mates: Leclerc holds the stronger qualifying record, while Hamilton has achieved the better results on race day.
That represents a considerable reversal from their 2025 dynamic. During Lewis Hamilton’s first season at Maranello, Charles Leclerc held a clear advantage and the British driver managed to finish ahead of his younger team-mate in only three Grands Prix.
Hamilton’s improvement has therefore been about more than recovering confidence. He has become increasingly competitive against a driver deeply established within Ferrari and has moved into second place in the championship. For Button, those developments are evidence that the version of Hamilton familiar from his most successful Formula 1 years has re-emerged.
The remaining challenge is converting that revival into a sustained championship push. With Antonelli holding a 50-point advantage and Leclerc continuing to provide a demanding benchmark inside the same team, Hamilton will need Ferrari’s recent progress to continue when the season resumes after the summer break.
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