Lewis Hamilton’s resurgence at Ferrari has earned glowing praise from fellow F1 world champion Damon Hill, who believes the seven-time champion has used his enormous influence within Formula 1 to help engineer one of the sport’s most impressive turnarounds.
After a bruising first season in red in 2025, when Hamilton finished sixth in the championship and failed to score a single Grand Prix podium, few expected such a dramatic recovery.
Yet heading into the summer break of 2026, the 41-year-old sits second in the standings, armed with a commanding victory in Barcelona and four additional podium finishes.
For Hill, the revival is no accident.
“Cream always rises to the top, doesn’t it?,” the 1996 world champion told Formula1.com.
“He’s going to win at anything he does. I don’t think it sits easily with him to back off. He’s been working hard over the winter, clearly, and he’s worked on how he wants the Ferrari to be for him.”
Hamilton reshaping Ferrari
Hill believes Hamilton has not simply adapted to Ferrari; he has actively shaped the team around his needs, using the authority that comes with seven world titles.
“They signed him, they paid a lot of money to have him, so he’s saying, ‘Okay, I’m not going to just sit here and do what you do,’” Hill said.
“‘I’m going to tell you what I do, and you’re going to make it suit me’. The power he has, the reputation he has, he’s putting to work, to protect himself. He’s right to do that.”
The comments underline how unusual Hamilton’s position is within modern Formula 1. Few drivers possess the stature to influence the direction of a team as profoundly as he can, and Hill sees that clout as a major factor behind Ferrari’s return to competitiveness.
Berger welcomes Ferrari’s return to the front
Hamilton’s resurgence has also delighted former Ferrari driver Gerhard Berger, who admitted it was encouraging to see both the Scuderia and Hamilton fighting near the front again.
“In general, we are all so happy if we see a winning Ferrari,” Berger told the official F1 website. “Ferrari is Ferrari.”
The Austrian said he had felt particular sympathy for Hamilton during his difficult debut campaign with the team.
“I was very happy also for Lewis, because for Lewis, it’s been very difficult. He came to Ferrari and wanted to repeat his success from the past,” commented the ten-time Grand Prix winner.
“Suddenly, he found himself in a difficult situation from a technical side, but also from a team mate side – a very fast team mate.”
Charles Leclerc’s strong form last season only magnified the challenge Hamilton faced, making the current turnaround all the more striking.
“For Lewis, last year was very hard, but now it looks like he’s coming out of the corner a bit,” Berger added.
A champion’s response
Hamilton’s revival has become one of the standout stories of the 2026 season. Rather than fading after a disappointing first year at Ferrari, he has responded with the determination that defined his championship-winning career.
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Hamilton upbeat on Ferrari future: ‘The second half will be stronger’Hill’s assessment perhaps captures it best: Hamilton has not relied solely on talent. He has used experience, authority and relentless self-belief to reshape his environment and reignite his challenge at the front of Formula 1.
For Ferrari, and for Formula 1, the sight of Hamilton winning again has injected fresh energy into the championship — and reminded the paddock that champions rarely stay down for long.
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