Lewis Hamilton responds to doubters: “I keep proving I have what it takes”. Lewis Hamilton responds to critics while expressing confidence in Ferrari’s SF-26.

Alongside his positive outlook on the SF-26’s potential, the seven-time world champion also addressed the criticism directed at him

A challenging debut

Lewis Hamilton’s debut season with Ferrari in 2025 was far from memorable for the seven-time world champion, who managed to secure only limited satisfaction during two Sprint Grands Prix. In China, he claimed both pole position and victory, while in Miami he finished in third place. In the main races, however, Sir Lewis failed to record either a fastest lap in qualifying or a podium finish, achieving the latter for the first time only at the start of this current championship, once again in China.

The feeling with the SF-26

A result that allowed the 41-year-old to finally break the streak of negative performances with the Maranello car, contributing to his provisional fourth place in the overall standings ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, scheduled for early May. “I like driving this car,” he commented to Formula 1’s official channels. “It’s a car in which I played an important role during development in the simulator, and I can see things that I asked for. I see them in the design, I feel them, and I feel them in a positive way.”

Seven-time world champion

These statements from the #44 are both firm and optimistic, and at the same time they sound like a response to those who have expressed strong doubts about the British driver’s potential. “I see some people who haven’t even come close to achieving my level of success and who continue to speak badly about me,” he added without naming names. “They are still doing it now. I feel great to be back, to start this season and to be strong. I keep proving that I have what it takes.” – the seven-time Formula 1 world champion pointed out.

Lewis Hamilton’s resurgent form at the start of the 2026 season therefore acts as both a personal triumph and a technical validation for Ferrari. By silencing critics who questioned his age and his adaptability to the Maranello environment, the Briton has re-established himself as a formidable contender for race wins. As the season moves toward its intensive summer schedule, the synergy between the driver and the SF-26—a car he helped shape—could be the key to challenging the current hierarchy and proving that his hunger for success remains as sharp as ever.