Jolyon Palmer believes Lewis Hamilton is finally showing the confidence to take greater risks with Ferrari, pointing to the seven-time world champion’s aggressive recovery drive at Sepang as evidence that his trust in the SF-26 has grown significantly.
Lewis Hamilton did not seriously threaten for victory in Malaysia, but his weekend still provided plenty of encouragement. He was particularly positive after qualifying about Ferrari’s recent progress, while his eventual recovery to the podium came despite a costly strategy decision at the beginning of the race. For Palmer, the most significant aspect was the instinctive and committed way Hamilton attacked his rivals.
Jolyon Palmer sees Lewis Hamilton taking risks again
Analysing the Malaysian weekend, Palmer explained that he had been especially impressed by Hamilton’s instinctive racing. The Ferrari driver repeatedly attempted overtakes from distances where other drivers might have been less willing to commit, something Palmer interpreted as a clear sign of confidence under braking.
That willingness to attack was particularly notable given how difficult parts of Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari had been. Earlier in the season, including as recently as Baku, the British driver had still expressed dissatisfaction with aspects of the car. At Sepang, however, his driving suggested that he trusted the SF-26 to support the late-braking manoeuvres he was attempting.
The turnaround also came during a weekend in which Ferrari recovered strongly after its opening tyre strategy failed. Lewis Hamilton eventually finished on the podium, and the team subsequently confirmed it would review the costly Sepang tyre decision while retaining the positives from the recovery.
Sepang qualifying also impressed Jolyon Palmer
Palmer felt the strongest version of Lewis Hamilton had already been visible during qualifying in Malaysia. Looking across the wider season, he considered the Briton’s progress particularly impressive given the difficulties he had experienced in 2025.
In Palmer’s assessment, simply reaching a level comparable with Charles Leclerc would already have represented a major turnaround from the previous campaign. The fact that Hamilton is ahead in the points strengthened his view that the seven-time world champion has rediscovered much of the confidence and competitive instinct that had appeared harder to access during his more difficult periods.
The comparison between the two Ferrari drivers remains an important part of the Scuderia’s season, but Palmer’s emphasis was less on the internal hierarchy and more on how dramatically Hamilton’s driving confidence appeared to have changed.
Hamilton appears to trust the Ferrari more
The key difference Palmer identified is faith in the car. At Sepang, Lewis Hamilton looked comfortable committing to braking points and overtaking attempts that required him to trust the Ferrari beneath him. The SF-26 also coped well with the difficult track and weather conditions, something that could further reinforce that confidence.
That performance followed a weekend in which the car’s underlying pace was encouraging despite Ferrari’s strategic setback. The recovery strengthened optimism around the package, while Palmer has also identified characteristics of the SF-26 that could suit Singapore, particularly as the championship moves into circuits with different demands from Sepang.
For Hamilton, the significance is psychological as well as technical. A driver willing to brake later, commit to overtakes and accept greater risk generally needs confidence that the car will respond consistently. Palmer believes Malaysia provided evidence that this relationship between driver and machine is becoming considerably stronger.
Singapore offers another test of Hamilton’s renewed confidence
The Singapore Grand Prix provides another opportunity to see whether that aggressive approach carries over. Palmer believes Hamilton is most effective when operating close to the limit, and the confidence shown in Malaysia could encourage another committed performance at Marina Bay.
There were already several reasons for optimism heading into Singapore, including Hamilton’s history at the circuit and the characteristics of Ferrari’s car. Those factors were explored in more detail in the assessment of Lewis Hamilton’s Singapore opportunities with Ferrari.
The Malaysian drive did not establish that every problem has disappeared, but Palmer sees a clear change in the way Hamilton is approaching races. After a difficult previous season and periods of frustration with Ferrari machinery, the seven-time world champion now appears more prepared to rely on the car, attack under braking and exploit opportunities when they appear.
That could prove important during the closing stages of the campaign. Hamilton’s Sepang podium showed what was possible even after an early strategic setback, while his more instinctive driving suggested that the confidence needed to push the SF-26 closer to its limits is returning at an important point in the season.
Leave a Reply