Damon Hill believes that Lewis Hamilton has profoundly transformed Ferrari thanks to his experience and his status. An evolution that fully revives his ambitions for the world title.
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After a very difficult first season at Ferrari in 2025, Lewis Hamilton shows a completely different face this year. The Briton currently holds second place in the world championship, with one win and several podiums, and remains more than ever in the running to win a historic eighth world title.
For Damon Hill, this spectacular turnaround is no accident. The 1996 world champion believes that Hamilton has been able to put his immense experience and influence at the service of Ferrari in order to build a car better suited to his driving style.
A metamorphosis after a difficult 2025
The gap is striking between Lewis Hamilton’s first two seasons under Ferrari colors.
In 2025, the seven-time world champion never managed to reach the podium in a Grand Prix and went through the campaign without really finding his marks behind the wheel of the SF-25.
A few months later, the situation is completely different. Thanks to a much more competitive SF-26 better suited to his preferences, Hamilton has repositioned himself in the fight for the championship, just 50 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli.
“A competitor at heart”
For Damon Hill, this rebirth primarily reflects the personality of the British driver.
“The cream always rises to the top, doesn’t it? Lewis is a competitor in every fiber of his body.”
According to the former Williams driver, Hamilton never considered settling for the situation he experienced last year.
“He wants to win in everything he undertakes. Stepping back or accepting a difficult situation simply isn’t part of his personality.”
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Hill recalls that the Briton worked hard during the winter to start fresh with Ferrari.
“He worked a lot during the off-season and clearly helped define the direction Ferrari needed to take to better suit his style.”
A status that changes the game
Damon Hill also points out that Ferrari has fully taken into account the requests of its star driver.
According to him, Hamilton has an influence that very few drivers can claim in Formula 1.
“Ferrari hired him and pays him a very large salary. He kind of tells them: ‘I’m not just going to do what you’ve always done. I’m going to tell you what I need, and you’re going to build a car that suits me.'”
For Hill, this ability to evolve such a prestigious team is one of Hamilton’s greatest strengths.
“The power he has and the reputation he has built, he now puts them at the service of his own success. And he is absolutely right to do so.”
After a 2025 season to forget, Lewis Hamilton thus seems to have regained all the tools to play a leading role. If Ferrari continues its progress in the second half of the championship, the Briton could well have a real chance to win an eighth world crown.
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