Lewis Hamilton’s resurgence in his second season with Ferrari has prompted Nico Rosberg to reassess the seven-time Formula 1 world champion’s performances. After a deeply disappointing first year at Maranello, the British driver has rediscovered his form in 2026, with his former Mercedes teammate crediting the new technical regulations for helping him return to the level that defined his most successful seasons.
Following Lewis Hamilton’s difficult Ferrari debut, many observers had already reached a harsh conclusion. Some believed the seven-time world champion had joined the Italian team for a prestigious and financially rewarding final chapter of his career rather than to fight at the highest level again. His struggles against Charles Leclerc only reinforced those doubts, but his performances in 2026 have forced many to reconsider that assessment.
Nico Rosberg reflects on Lewis Hamilton’s difficult first year at Ferrari
Few former drivers are as familiar with Lewis Hamilton’s abilities as Nico Rosberg. The two competed as Mercedes teammates, and the German eventually secured the 2016 Formula 1 World Championship. Their shared experience gives particular weight to his assessment of the British driver’s difficult introduction to life at Ferrari.
Speaking to Sky Sport Germany, Nico Rosberg acknowledged just how challenging the seven-time world champion’s first season at Maranello had been, particularly given the expectations surrounding his arrival.
“Lewis really had a nightmare first year at Ferrari. It was tough mentally, too. You arrive with the expectation of being the nation’s saviour, and suddenly you’re being beaten by your younger teammate, who isn’t even a world champion yet.”
The comparison with Charles Leclerc became one of the defining difficulties of Lewis Hamilton’s first campaign in red. The Monegasque had already established himself within the team, while his new teammate struggled to match his performances consistently. The situation inevitably fuelled questions about whether the Briton could return to his previous level.
That difficult beginning makes the change in 2026 particularly significant. The evolution of the relationship between the two drivers can also be explored through the Charles Leclerc vs Lewis Hamilton F1 head-to-head statistics, which cover their qualifying performances, race results and championship progress.
Why the 2026 F1 regulations have helped Lewis Hamilton rediscover his form
According to Nico Rosberg, the most important explanation for Lewis Hamilton’s revival lies in the characteristics of the new generation of Formula 1 cars. The technical regulations introduced for 2026 have produced machinery that is considerably better suited to the British driver’s driving style, allowing him to recover the confidence and competitiveness that appeared to be missing during his first Ferrari season.
The 2016 world champion believes this compatibility has played a decisive role in the turnaround, helping the seven-time title winner demonstrate that his previous difficulties did not necessarily represent an irreversible decline.
“The new regulations suit Lewis much better, and he’s back to his historical level. He’s driving brilliantly again and is back among the best in the world.”
For Nico Rosberg, the improvement is not simply a matter of slightly better results. He sees the performances as evidence that Lewis Hamilton has rediscovered the exceptional level of driving that established him among Formula 1’s most successful competitors.
The change has also been visible in some of the Briton’s strongest performances during the 2026 campaign, including his impressive qualifying display at Sepang. Ferrari’s performance through the corners and the seven-time world champion’s contribution were examined in the Ferrari SF-26 qualifying analysis from Sepang.
Nico Rosberg praises Lewis Hamilton’s comeback at the age of 41
Another aspect of Lewis Hamilton’s resurgence that particularly impresses Nico Rosberg is his age. At 41, the Ferrari driver is demonstrating that he can still compete at the highest level despite the challenges of adapting to a new team and overcoming a difficult previous season.
The former Mercedes driver believes that Formula 1 benefits from having a competitor of Lewis Hamilton’s stature fighting near the front of the field. He considers the return to form especially remarkable given the stage of the Briton’s career.
“It’s great to see, and it’s essential because Formula 1 needs him up there at the front. At 41, hats off to him: it’s an extraordinary achievement.”
The praise is particularly meaningful coming from a former teammate who knows the demands of competing against Lewis Hamilton at the highest level. Nico Rosberg’s assessment reflects the contrast between the doubts surrounding the seven-time world champion after his Ferrari debut and the level of performance he has demonstrated in 2026.
Lewis Hamilton’s wider achievements, alongside his record since joining Maranello, can be explored in his dedicated Formula 1 career and Ferrari statistics.
Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari revival challenges earlier doubts
The difference between Lewis Hamilton’s first and second seasons at Ferrari has changed the discussion surrounding his future. What some initially interpreted as the beginning of the final decline of an extraordinary career now appears, in Nico Rosberg’s assessment, to have been a particularly difficult period of adaptation.
His explanation places the emphasis on the relationship between the driver’s characteristics and the technical demands of the car. With the 2026 regulations providing a more favourable platform, the seven-time world champion has been able to demonstrate a level of performance that his former Mercedes teammate recognises from their years together.
For Ferrari, the improvement represents an encouraging development after the difficulties of Lewis Hamilton’s opening campaign. For Nico Rosberg, it is also a reminder of the British driver’s enduring ability: at 41, he believes the seven-time world champion has returned to the highest level of Formula 1.
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