Why Emerson Fittipaldi believes 2026 F1 cars suit Lewis Hamilton better. Emerson Fittipaldi explains how new regulations helped Lewis Hamilton at FerrariEmerson Fittipaldi believes the smaller, lower-downforce 2026 F1 cars suit Lewis Hamilton and help explain his Ferrari resurgence and rise to second..

Lewis Hamilton’s resurgence with Ferrari in 2026 may have as much to do with Formula 1’s new generation of cars as his growing familiarity with Maranello, according to two-time world champion Emerson Fittipaldi. The Brazilian believes the smaller, lighter and lower-downforce machinery introduced under the new regulations is better suited to Hamilton’s natural car control and feel than the previous ground-effect cars.

The difference has been reflected clearly in the results. After a deeply frustrating first season with Ferrari in 2025, Hamilton has climbed to second in the Drivers’ Championship and secured his first Grand Prix victory for the Scuderia in Barcelona. His recovery represents a significant change from a period in which his performances had attracted growing criticism.

Emerson Fittipaldi points to overlooked factor in Lewis Hamilton’s resurgence

Emerson Fittipaldi believes one element of Hamilton’s improvement has received relatively little attention: the fundamental characteristics of the 2026 Formula 1 cars. He highlighted their reduced size and lower levels of downforce, arguing that those qualities make the machinery more demanding to drive quickly and therefore place greater emphasis on individual talent.

In the former world champion’s assessment, that environment plays directly to Hamilton’s strengths. Fittipaldi attributed part of the seven-time champion’s improvement to his exceptional car control and ability to feel what the car is doing underneath him.

The regulatory reset has coincided with a broader revival for the Briton, whose results have placed him at the heart of Ferrari’s championship campaign. Even with several missed opportunities during the opening part of the year, Hamilton has established himself as the team’s highest-placed driver, while an analysis of the points lost from Lewis Hamilton’s 2026 title challenge shows that his current total could have been even stronger.

Ground-effect era proved more difficult for Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton’s problems did not begin when he left Mercedes. His form had already declined during the final years of his long and highly successful spell with the team, particularly during the era of ground-effect cars used from 2022 through 2025.

Fittipaldi suggested that the previous generation was less compatible with Hamilton’s driving strengths than the machinery introduced this season. By contrast, he believes the 2026 cars demand more from the driver because they are smaller and operate with less aerodynamic downforce, creating an environment in which car control can have a greater influence on lap time.

That assessment offers another explanation for the scale of Hamilton’s turnaround. His second year at Maranello has also brought the benefit of familiarity. Fittipaldi pointed out that Hamilton now understands Ferrari’s engineers and internal systems far better than he did when arriving from Mercedes, giving him a more established working environment alongside the characteristics of the new car.

Lewis Hamilton has transformed his Ferrari fortunes in 2026

The contrast with 2025 is substantial. Hamilton joined Ferrari after bringing his hugely successful Mercedes career to an end, but his first season with the Italian team proved exceptionally difficult. He struggled to adapt to his new surroundings and was regularly outperformed by team-mate Charles Leclerc.

For the first time in Hamilton’s Formula 1 career, an entire season passed without a single Grand Prix podium. At particularly difficult moments, the seven-time champion even questioned his own value to the team as he searched unsuccessfully for the performance and confidence he needed.

The new regulations have produced a very different picture. Hamilton’s first Ferrari Grand Prix victory in Barcelona provided the clearest evidence of his progress, while second place in the championship has confirmed that his improvement extends well beyond a single successful weekend. Ferrari team principal Frédéric Vasseur has nevertheless maintained that the team’s overall 2026 level is still not enough as Maranello continues its pursuit of the championship leaders.

Emerson Fittipaldi welcomes Ferrari and Hamilton return to winning form

Fittipaldi was particularly pleased to see both Hamilton and Ferrari returning to the front. Drawing on his own experience in Formula 1 and IndyCar, he recalled how ageing drivers can quickly face suggestions that they are no longer capable of performing at the required level.

He noted that Hamilton endured exactly that kind of criticism in 2025, when his inability to consistently match Charles Leclerc led some observers to argue that age had caught up with him. The 2026 campaign has provided a powerful response, with the British driver again winning races and competing near the top of the championship.

For Fittipaldi, that revival is positive not only for Hamilton but also for Formula 1 as a whole. He believes seeing the seven-time world champion competing strongly again, while Ferrari returns to winning Grands Prix, is beneficial for the sport and its supporters.

The combination of a car that appears better suited to Hamilton’s abilities and a second year of experience inside Ferrari has therefore become central to Fittipaldi’s explanation for the turnaround. With the Briton now understanding the engineers, systems and working methods around him, the 2026 regulations may have arrived at precisely the right moment to allow some of his strongest qualities behind the wheel to become more influential again.