Lewis Hamilton admits even Fred Vasseur may have questioned him. Lewis Hamilton reflects on difficult Ferrari start and remarkable comeback.

Lewis Hamilton’s personal motto is “Still I rise,” and his resurgent start to the 2026 season—peaking with a magnificent victory in Barcelona—stands as a perfect real-world example of the British champion’s guiding philosophy. Explaining the weight of the achievement, Lewis opened up about the emotional journey to get back to the top step of the podium.

“To explain it in words is difficult. I feel gratitude and I am immensely proud of the team and the people I work with,” he told the Canal+ microphones, highlighting the internal battles fought behind the scenes. “Last year, the team really went through it all, and so did I, both on a personal and public level. But during the winter, I managed to get myself back together. I trained, I rediscovered my focus and mental strength, and I rebuilt the team and the group of people around me. All of this reminds me that you can never give up.”

Hamilton opens up on Fred Vasseur’s internal doubts

Showing his characteristic honesty, Lewis Hamilton candidly reflected on his 2025 campaign with Ferrari, which ended up being a far cry from what he had initially envisioned:

“I will be forever grateful to Fred for believing in me, for supporting me, and bringing me into this team. Last year was difficult for both of us, and I am sure there were moments of doubt on his part and from everyone around him. But he kept his head down, he continued to support me, and, especially at the end of the year, he really listened to me and helped me move the pieces of the puzzle to the point of allowing me to return to my best. And I believe I pushed this team; we would have never made it without all those fantastic people in the factory who work so hard.”

The road ahead for the SF-26

With his maiden win in red now secured, Lewis Hamilton believes the technical foundation is in place for Ferrari to keep pushing forward, even if the car still needs refinement. Now, it is up to the SF-26 to repay that immense effort:

“I truly believe in everything this team can achieve, even if we lack power like today. We have a direction, we know where we need to go. We have to lay down the bricks and there is a long way to go. We must continue to learn and take steps, even small ones. I truly believe we can continue to apply pressure,” Hamilton concluded.

This dramatic turning point in Spain highlights how rapidly fortunes can shift in modern Formula 1, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the next chapter of the championship battle. As teams analyze the data from this intense race weekend, the pressure will only intensify heading into the upcoming Austrian Grand Prix.