Former Formula 1 World Champion Nico Rosberg has expressed satisfaction at the way Lewis Hamilton has begun to rediscover his form at Ferrari, suggesting that the British driver has finally adapted to his new environment after a difficult transition period in Maranello.
After enduring a challenging 2025 Formula 1 season in which Lewis Hamilton failed to secure a single podium finish for the first time since his debut campaign in 2007, the seven-time World Champion has shown early signs of recovery in 2026. Remarkably, it only took him two races of the current season to return to the podium positions, signaling a potential turnaround in performance.
Nico Rosberg, who was once both a childhood friend and later a fierce title rival of Lewis Hamilton during their Mercedes battles between 2014 and 2016, commented on the situation in an interview with the Italian daily nenwspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, offering his perspective on Ferrari’s current trajectory and the Briton’s integration into the team.
Ferrari’s progress and Lewis Hamilton’s adaptation process
In his assessment, Nico Rosberg explained that Ferrari have made clear progress compared to the previous season, even if they are still lacking the final step required to consistently challenge for victories. He suggested that while McLaren may currently appear closer to Mercedes in terms of performance, Ferrari remain a strong contender for race wins in the near future.
According to Nico Rosberg, Ferrari’s last victory dating back to the 2024 Mexico City Grand Prix highlights how long the team has been waiting to return to the top step of the podium, but he remains optimistic that this situation could change soon if development continues in the right direction.
Rosberg also noted that Lewis Hamilton appears to be increasingly integrated within the Ferrari structure, describing the adaptation process as more complex and demanding than many initially expected from both the driver’s and the team’s perspective.
He was quoted as saying that Ferrari have “started off strong and the car is good,” while also acknowledging that something is still missing for race victories. However, he emphasized that the team has improved significantly compared to the previous year and should soon be capable of returning to Grand Prix-winning form.
Nico Rosberg further added that he is pleased to see Lewis Hamilton returning to a higher competitive level, stating that the British driver now appears to be “racing with joy” again after what he described as a very difficult 2025 campaign. He also explained that settling into a completely new environment at Ferrari was not an easy process, but that Lewis Hamilton now seems to have fully adapted.
Lewis Hamilton’s role at Ferrari and evolving team dynamics
Prior to the Miami Grand Prix, Ferrari Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur highlighted that the seven-time world champion has been actively involved in key development decisions regarding the SF-26, the team’s current Formula 1 car. This involvement has reportedly strengthened his internal role and given him a stronger sense of leadership within the Maranello-based outfit.
The SF-26 itself is now considered more closely aligned with Lewis Hamilton’s driving preferences, particularly in comparison to the previous ground-effect generation of Formula 1 cars. There is a growing belief within the paddock that the Briton is more comfortable with this new technical era, which could contribute to improved consistency over the season.
On track, Lewis Hamilton has already engaged in several competitive battles with his teammate Charles Leclerc, something that was rarely seen during his initial phase at Ferrari in 2025. The intra-team dynamic appears to be more balanced, even if Charles Leclerc has still shown a marginal advantage in qualifying and race pace during recent events.
Despite Charles Leclerc receiving a penalty that demoted him to seventh place in Miami, the Monegasque driver has generally maintained a stronger performance level across the last two race weekends. However, analysts within the paddock have stressed that the sample size remains too small to definitively conclude that Lewis Hamilton has fully returned to peak form.
While clear progress has been made, there are also subtle signs that the emotional uplift seen at the beginning of the season may have slightly faded. Lewis Hamilton’s energy and optimism during the opening rounds have been replaced by a more subdued and measured demeanor in recent races, suggesting that the development curve at Ferrari is still ongoing rather than complete.
Overall, Lewis Hamilton’s adaptation to Ferrari continues to evolve, and while Nico Rosberg’s comments underline a positive trajectory, the true competitive benchmark will only become clearer as the 2026 Formula 1 season progresses and Ferrari’s SF-26 development cycle unfolds further.
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