The F1 icon Lewis Hamilton once called his “Mentor” after guiding Ferrari to two world titles. Lewis Hamilton aims to revive Ferrari’s fortunes, drawing inspiration from Niki Lauda’s legendary success with the team.

Lewis Hamilton is determined to restore Ferrari to its former glory by bringing championship success back to Maranello, as the iconic team continues to endure a painful title drought that has now stretched to 18 years.

In 2024, Ferrari came agonisingly close to securing the Constructors’ Championship after a fierce season-long battle with McLaren. However, it was the papaya team that ultimately triumphed, leaving Ferrari without a title once again. This prolonged drought is now Ferrari’s longest in history, drawing comparisons to their previous barren spell between 1964 and 1975 — a gap famously ended by Niki Lauda.

Lauda’s rise with Ferrari began in 1974, when he claimed his first Grand Prix victory at the Spanish Grand Prix at Jarama, driving the Ferrari 312B3. His breakthrough win marked the start of a new era for the Scuderia.

The resurgence of Ferrari during that period was largely credited to engineer Mauro Forghieri, who had been personally appointed by Enzo Ferrari to lead the technical department. Forghieri implemented crucial modifications to the 312B3, focusing heavily on centralising the car’s mass. This innovation significantly enhanced the car’s agility, particularly through tight corners.

Over the winter, Ferrari engineers also focused on developing a more powerful engine to challenge the dominance of the Cosworth DFV V8. Their new power unit produced an additional 20bhp compared to the Cosworth, although it came at the cost of a 15kg weight increase.

In 1974, Lauda went on to claim nine pole positions, converting strong qualifying performances into victories at both the Spanish and Dutch Grands Prix. His teammate, Clay Regazzoni, also contributed by taking a win at the Nürburgring.

Lauda’s maiden victory for Ferrari in Spain came under challenging conditions. Rain in the opening 19 laps saw him initially fall behind Ronnie Peterson at the start. However, a swift and well-timed pit stop orchestrated by the Ferrari team allowed Lauda to regain the lead, eventually crossing the line ahead of Regazzoni to secure a dominant Ferrari 1-2 finish.

This triumph proved to be the catalyst for Ferrari’s revival, with Lauda going on to claim the Drivers’ Championship in 1975 and again in 1977, driving the legendary Ferrari 312T.

Lewis Hamilton, who shared a close professional relationship with Lauda during his time at Mercedes, has often spoken about the Austrian’s profound influence on his career. He once described Niki Lauda as a ‘mentor’ and dedicated his sixth world championship to him after his passing.

Lewis Hamilton explained that the 2019 season was especially emotional, as he had dedicated it to his late friend and mentor, highlighting that Lauda had shown the world how courage and determination were inseparable virtues.

As Hamilton navigates a challenging phase at Ferrari in 2025, struggling particularly with the braking systems of the SF-25, Niki Lauda’s legacy and influence remain close to his heart. Despite the current difficulties, Hamilton remains optimistic that Ferrari can deliver a more competitive package with the 2026 regulation changes on the horizon.

The parallels between Lauda’s historic journey with Ferrari and Hamilton’s current mission are striking. Both faced adversity, yet the determination to turn the tide remains unchanged. Hamilton’s quest to end Ferrari’s title drought echoes Lauda’s triumphant story, keeping alive the hope of another fairytale ending in Maranello.