After a difficult debut season at Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton is back in contention for wins in 2026—Toto Wolff sees several key reasons for this
Lewis Hamilton’s form is clearly on the rise in the 2026 Formula 1 season. After a difficult first year at Ferrari, the seven-time world champion celebrated his first victory for the Scuderia at the Barcelona Grand Prix and had previously secured several podium finishes.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff attributes this to a combination of sporting, technical, and personal factors.
Hamilton had experienced a disappointing debut season in 2025 following his move to Ferrari. He failed to secure a single podium finish that year. This year, however, the Briton is performing significantly stronger. Prior to his success in Barcelona, he had already stood on the podium in China, Monaco, and Canada.
First Ferrari Victory After a Difficult Debut Season
At the Barcelona Grand Prix, Hamilton prevailed over the competition with an aggressive three-stop strategy. A late virtual safety car also played into his hands, as he was able to make his final pit stop under favorable conditions. He then confidently defended his lead all the way to the finish line.
After the race, Wolff congratulated his longtime former driver on his success: “First of all, congratulations to Lewis! He has worked so hard and gone through many difficult moments, especially last year. That’s why I’m truly happy for him that he won.”
Wolff also reiterated his appreciation for Hamilton: “I’ve always said: If neither of our two drivers wins, then it should be Lewis. And today, he deserved the victory.“ Wolff also mentions Ferrari Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur in this context: ”I’m also happy for Fred. The responsibility and pressure at Ferrari are enormous. That’s why I’m happy and relieved for him. He’s close to my heart.”
Wolff cites technical and sporting reasons
When asked about the reasons for Hamilton’s improved performance, Wolff first points to the current generation of cars. The new cars behave differently from those of previous years, which were characterized by severe bouncing and very stiff setups.
This year’s cars are completely different and apparently better suited to Hamilton’s driving style. “This is closer to a conventional driving style again, at least in terms of aerodynamics and vehicle dynamics,” explains Wolff. “Obviously, the engine management is completely different, but you can see that he’s driving strongly.”
Furthermore, the Austrian praises the collaboration within the Ferrari team. “The dynamic within the team seems good between him and his race engineer,” says Wolff. “I saw him on the podium on TV. His facial expression tells me he’s very happy.”
Personal life also plays a role
Subsequently, Wolff, speaking not only as a former team principal but also as a longtime friend of Hamilton, makes a joking remark about his personal life: “Maybe the girlfriend helps! It helped me to have a partner. You have a stable family life, and the two of them seem to get along very well.“
Wolff makes it clear, however, that in his view, several factors come together. ”I think it’s the sum of all these factors from an emotional, personal, and professional perspective,“ he explained. ”When you feel good, you win.”
Hamilton’s victory also had an impact on the World Championship. With Kimi Antonelli retiring four laps before the end of the race, Hamilton reduced his deficit to the Italian from 66 to 41 points. After finishing second in Barcelona, George Russell is now nine points behind Hamilton in third place in the drivers’ standings.
