Former Formula 1 driver Pedro de la Rosa believes one quality has separated Lewis Hamilton from virtually every other driver throughout his career. According to the Spaniard, the seven-time world champion possesses an extraordinary sensitivity to the behaviour of a Formula 1 car, allowing him to operate at the absolute limit of grip in a way that very few, if any, of his rivals can consistently replicate.
Few drivers in the history of Formula 1 have enjoyed a career comparable to that of Lewis Hamilton. After making an immediate impact with McLaren, the British driver went on to dominate the hybrid era with Mercedes, collecting six of his seven World Drivers’ Championships before embarking on a new challenge with Ferrari ahead of the 2025 season.
The move to Maranello inevitably intensified the long-running debate over Formula 1’s greatest driver of all time, placing the seven-time world champion alongside legendary names like Michael Schumacher, Ayrton Senna, Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen. While statistics alone already support Lewis Hamilton’s case—with records for Grand Prix victories, pole positions and podium finishes—many within the paddock believe his greatest strength is something that cannot easily be measured by numbers.
Pedro de la Rosa highlights Lewis Hamilton’s exceptional feel for the car
In F1 Racing Drive, a book by former Sky Sports Formula 1 reporter Rachel Brookes, Pedro de la Rosa reflected on the qualities that have made Lewis Hamilton one of the most naturally gifted drivers of the modern era.
The former Arrows, Jaguar, McLaren, Sauber and HRT driver explained that Lewis Hamilton has always displayed an extraordinary ability to sense exactly what the rear of the car is doing when entering a corner at high speed. Rather than relying solely on steering input, Lewis Hamilton is able to rotate the car by carefully balancing rear-end slip, maintaining control while operating on the very edge of available grip.
Pedro de la Rosa humorously suggested that the British driver almost seemed to have “sensors” built into his body, enabling him to detect subtle changes in grip that other drivers simply cannot feel. He described this remarkable awareness as a kind of sixth sense, arguing that every corner presents different levels of grip and balance, yet Lewis Hamilton consistently adapts instinctively to those changing conditions.
According to Pedro de la Rosa, this exceptional sensitivity allows Lewis Hamilton to attack corner entries with remarkable precision while keeping the car balanced on a knife edge—something that is often impossible to appreciate fully from television onboard footage.
A rare talent that continues to define Lewis Hamilton’s career
That extraordinary feel for the car has been one of the defining characteristics of Lewis Hamilton’s Formula 1 career. Combined with exceptional racecraft, tyre management and adaptability, it has helped the British driver rewrite the record books over nearly two decades at the pinnacle of motorsport.
Despite turning 41, Lewis Hamilton continues to compete at the highest level. Although his first campaign with Ferrari proved far more challenging than expected, the 2026 season has demonstrated that both the driver and the Scuderia have made significant progress.
The Briton secured his breakthrough Ferrari victory at the Spanish Grand Prix, adding to an impressive run of five podium finishes during the opening part of the campaign. Those performances have strengthened his position in the Drivers’ Championship, where he currently holds a 39-point advantage over teammate Charles Leclerc.
Ferrari’s improved competitiveness has also reignited hopes that Lewis Hamilton could remain a genuine title contender as the season progresses. With the SF-26 showing encouraging pace and the partnership between driver and team growing stronger race by race, optimism continues to build inside Maranello.
Attention turns to Spa-Francorchamps
The Formula 1 season now heads to one of its most demanding venues: the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. The legendary circuit rewards driver confidence, commitment and precise car control through iconic corners like Eau Rouge, Raidillon and Blanchimont.
Those characteristics have often suited Lewis Hamilton throughout his career, making Spa another opportunity for the Ferrari driver to demonstrate the exceptional instinct that Pedro de la Rosa believes continues to distinguish him from the rest of the Formula 1 grid.
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