Formula 1 drivers always repeat it like a mantra: winning with Ferrari is just different. In Barcelona, Lewis Hamilton experienced this unique emotion for the very first time, bringing the Prancing Horse back to the top step of the podium after a 34-race drought. Up on the podium, he couldn’t hold back his tears, which perfectly encapsulated the sheer weight of the moment. With the British driver’s triumph, there are now 41 drivers in history who have tasted victory with the Scuderia. Among them is René Arnoux—who won in Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands back in 1983—and he shared his thoughts in a brief interview with the Italian daily newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport: “I still keep those unique sensations close to my heart.”
In Spain, did the driver make the difference, or was it the car?
“Both surprised me. I thought Hamilton had lost his edge with age, but he proved he is a true champion. He took the team on his shoulders and fully won over the trust of the fans. Ferrari, on the other hand, has made a massive step forward. The upgrades worked beautifully and the championship is still very long. We have all the ingredients for a breathless fight to the finish with Mercedes.”
How did Charles Leclerc handle his teammate’s success?
“Right now, his morale is completely rock bottom. He has shown a physical and competitive fragility that was somewhat unexpected, making far too many mistakes. He crashed in Miami, Monte Carlo, and Barcelona. Evidently, he isn’t feeling comfortable with the car, but the issue is primarily mental. He simply didn’t expect this level of competitiveness from Hamilton.”
Over at Mercedes, Toto Wolff hasn’t ruled out team orders starting from the Austrian GP.
“It is too early; we aren’t even halfway through the championship. In Barcelona, George Russell was quicker than Kimi Antonelli in free practice and qualifying. The team couldn’t possibly ask him to move aside. However, the Briton’s situation is highly complicated…”
Could you explain that further?
“He is playing for everything right now; if he were to lose the World Championship, his future would be hanging in the balance. The Italian, on the other hand, can race with a clearer mind. He is only 19 years old and has just 31 races under his belt in his career, so the expectations are entirely different. Kimi is deeply protected and loved by the team and Wolff, and I believe he has a very good chance of winning the title. Mercedes, however, must be careful, as we have seen plenty of incidents between teammates there in the past.”
The Brackley team’s entry into the first tier of the Audi concessions has sparked a lot of controversy.
“This regulation package sucks. It is far too complex, and it is unacceptable that drivers are forced to recharge their batteries down the straight. I am not against electric power, but the 50-50 split was a terrible idea.”
In conclusion, René Arnoux’s sharp analysis highlights the rapidly shifting power dynamics at both Ferrari and Mercedes as the championship fight intensifies. While Lewis Hamilton’s resurgence has breathed new life into Maranello, it has simultaneously thrown Charles Leclerc into a psychological corner. Across the paddock, Mercedes faces its own balancing act, managing a high-stakes title fight between an established George Russell fighting for his future and a highly-touted Kimi Antonelli racing with the full backing of the Brackley hierarchy.
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