1996 Components 1 world champion Damon Hill believes Hamilton has rebuilt himself this yr, having put the heartbreak of the 2021 championship decider behind him.
Hamilton is a driver reborn in 2026, having taken a number of podiums, a pole place and his maiden win for Ferrari.
That is in stark distinction to final season, when the seven-time world champion reduce a desolate determine. going so far as brazenly calling on Ferrari to interchange him.
His turnaround has been attributed to a number of components, certainly one of which is the brand new technical laws, a radical departure from the ground-effect period that went towards his driving model.
Hill believes that Hamilton is now reworked, and navigating Ferrari’s “political downside”.
“I feel there’s a gravitas that Lewis has. I imply, don’t neglect what he was like final yr. He was crushed,” he mentioned on the Sky Sports activities’ The F1 Present.
“He’s been crushed since Abu Dhabi, in impact, , in 2021. He’s been preventing his approach again. He’s carried out extremely properly this yr, a lot better than I assumed, contemplating I assumed it was going to be very troublesome, however he’s rebuilt himself.
“He’s a rare particular person. And I feel he has, and he’s received pole positions and gained races this yr in a Ferrari. Who would have mentioned that was potential final yr?
“And I feel we have to settle this within the staff as a result of there’s a political downside in that staff. For me, it looks as if there’s factions throughout the staff which might be taking pictures for one facet or the opposite.
“You possibly can’t have that in case you’re going to be an efficient competitor towards the Purple Bulls, McLaren and Mercedes.”
Damon Hill believes Ferrari ought to again Lewis Hamilton over Charles Leclerc
Hill then confirmed his perception that Ferrari ought to again Lewis Hamilton over Charles Leclerc, citing the latest contact on the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix.
“They [Ferrari] have invested all this in Lewis, they’ve received him on board, he’s an enormous title within the sport,” Hill mentioned.
“If they’ve a aggressive automobile subsequent yr, they may win the Drivers’ Championship and the Constructors’ Championship, and I can’t see how they’re going to win it if they’ve two drivers at present behaving the best way they do, if Charles is consistently racing towards Lewis like that.
So, it’s a must to decide as a staff principal the way you’re going to enter into the fray. And I feel it is sensible to me to place all of your eggs behind Lewis.
“You’ve received him there anyway. You’ve gone via all of the ache and the funding to get him there. It could be an enormous story, clearly. His eighth world title is simply sitting there.
“Now Charles would possibly say, properly, that is completely unfair, , I’ve been right here longer. However sure, you will have been there longer, however take a look at the outcomes.
“Lewis has received a legitimate level, which is he’s there to make them win as a staff, not simply be a Ferrari driver.”
With the prospect of each championships now lengthy gone, Ferrari might want to do some soul looking within the low season, and plan its assault on 2027.