Emerson Fittipaldi celebrated Lewis Hamilton’s recovery in the 2026 Formula 1 season and said he understood the criticism faced by the Briton last year. The former driver and two-time F1 champion said he had experienced a similar situation throughout his own career and highlighted that the current moment of the Ferrari driver is positive for the category.
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After a difficult adaptation season in 2025, Hamilton regained competitiveness in his second year at Ferrari. The seven-time champion secured his first win for the team at the Barcelona GP and went into the category’s break occupying second place in the drivers’ championship.
In an interview with F1.com, Fittipaldi recalled that he also heard questions about his age when he competed and said Hamilton went through the same kind of judgment: “I was very happy to see Lewis and Ferrari leading. I remember last year. This happened to me in IndyCar and Formula 1. When you get older, people start saying you can’t drive anymore. Last year, everyone criticized Lewis. They said he couldn’t beat (Charles) Leclerc and that he was too old,” he said.
For the Brazilian, the response given by Hamilton in 2026 benefits not only Ferrari but also Formula 1 itself: “Now he is back to driving strong. I think this is good for the category and for the fans. Seeing Ferrari winning again and Lewis winning again is fantastic,” he said.
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Fittipaldi also pointed out technical factors that, in his assessment, help explain the Briton’s evolution. According to him, the new car demands more skill from the drivers: “One thing that almost no one talks about is the new car. It is smaller, has less aerodynamic downforce, and for me, it became harder to drive quickly. I think this makes talent stand out even more,” he added.
In the Brazilian’s assessment, the car’s characteristics favor a driver with Hamilton’s experience and sensitivity: “I think this is one of the reasons for Lewis’s evolution, because of the control he has of the car and the sensitivity in driving. He is extremely talented. Also, he is in his second year at Ferrari, knows the engineers, and understands better how the team works,” concluded the former driver.
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