Emerson Fittipaldi has hailed Lewis Hamilton’s form at Ferrari as a catalyst for a late‑season title challenge.
Hamilton shows the best of his 2026 season with Ferrari
In his second campaign with the Maranello outfit, Hamilton now occupies second place in the drivers’ standings after a steady climb in the first half of the season. Fittipaldi noted that Hamilton’s performance has silenced critics who once questioned his pace against teammate Charles Leclerc.
Fittipaldi applauds Hamilton’s mastery over a reduced‑downforce machine
He praised the driver’s ability to extract speed from Ferrari’s new design, describing it as “smaller, with less downforce” and therefore more demanding. According to Fittipaldi, the car’s constraints demand heightened car control, an area where Hamilton excels. “The team knows the engineers and the system,” he said, underlining the driver’s growing synergy with the outfit.
Past doubts about Hamilton’s age resound no longer
Fittipaldi reflected on commentary from the prior season that cast Hamilton’s longevity into doubt, asserting “he cannot drive” and “he can’t beat Leclerc.” He suggested that those critiques have lost relevance as Hamilton demonstrates consistent speed, adding that “seeing Ferrari win again is fantastic for the sport and the fans.”
Is a title fight in the balance as second half approaches?
Looking forward, the former F1 champion expressed confidence in a championship showdown. He said, “I really hope Lewis challenges for the championship.” He added that a showdown with Mercedes would benefit fans and the race’s competitive narrative. Fittipaldi also praised Ferrari’s team principal Fred Vasseur, noting his prior success with A1 Team Brazil and ART Grand Prix and emphasizing his deep understanding of Italian running.
Photo by Andy Hone / LAT Images via Getty Images
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