Lewis Hamilton delivered his first Ferrari victory in Barcelona – one-and-a-half years after becoming a member of the group – and now sits second within the Formulation 1 championship.
With three extra podiums already this season earlier than his Barcelona win, Hamilton is as soon as once more making headlines.
The 41-year-old has spoken extensively in regards to the adjustments he pushed Ferrari to make final yr – and the way these efforts are actually beginning to ship outcomes. However may or not it’s so simple as the brand new automotive Ferrari produced beneath the newest laws suiting his driving type higher?
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Carlos Sainz, who raced for Ferrari earlier than making means for Hamilton, believes that might properly be the case.
“Ultimately, it exhibits that this sport has no secrets and techniques,” he advised the Spanish press after the Barcelona race, gained by Hamilton. “I believe all of us have a really excessive degree of expertise, however with totally different driving traits. Some vehicles go well with us, others do not.”
Sainz cited the beginning of the 2022 season, when Ferrari produced one of many quickest vehicles following a significant regulation overhaul. Whereas Charles Leclerc gained two of the primary three races and led the championship for a while, the Spaniard struggled to match his team-mate’s tempo.
He says he wanted time to adapt to a automotive that didn’t go well with his pure driving type – and that when he did, the outcomes improved as properly.
“The actual advantage of a driver is with the ability to adapt and with the ability to take no matter Formulation 1 automotive you are given and drive it on the restrict,” he mentioned. “One thing comparable occurred to me in 2022. At first of the yr, I had a Ferrari that I actually did not like. Then I managed to adapt, and in 2023 and 2024 I believe I carried out at a really excessive degree.
“And it could actually outline your whole profession. Immediately you be a part of a group with a automotive that does not go well with you, and also you spend three years unable to adapt, or the automotive by no means adapts to you, and you’ll look fully ineffective. Then you definately transfer to a group the place the automotive is completely suited to your type and immediately you seem like a god. This sport is far more difficult than folks suppose.”
Carlos Sainz, Williams
Photograph by: EYE4images / NurPhoto through Getty Photographs
Sainz went so far as suggesting that, had the laws not modified over the winter, Hamilton’s season may have seemed very totally different.
“Lewis additionally deserves lots of credit score for turning issues round from final yr to this yr in the way in which he has,” he mentioned. “He is additionally benefited from the regulation change as a result of if he’d been caught with final yr’s automotive for an additional three years, possibly we would not be seeing the Lewis we’re seeing this season.
“It exhibits that this sport must be defined correctly. Individuals want to know a little bit extra about how issues work as a result of altering groups shouldn’t be straightforward. At this charge, I am altering groups each two years and I’ve to adapt to no matter I am given.
“And sure, that is why I additionally suppose my season final yr had lots of benefit. The podiums on the finish of the yr and this primary half of the season won’t be getting a lot consideration, however I am having a really, excellent yr.”
In his 4 seasons at Ferrari, Sainz completed forward of Charles Leclerc within the championship as soon as – in his maiden marketing campaign with the group in 2021, when he outscored the Monegasque by 5.5 factors. Following the 2022 regulation overhaul, Sainz completed fifth within the standings with one victory, whereas Leclerc ended the yr second with three wins. The Spaniard was seventh in 2023, simply six factors behind his team-mate, earlier than ending his Ferrari profession in fifth within the 2024 championship, 66 factors adrift of Leclerc, who completed third.
Leclerc additionally comfortably had the higher hand over Hamilton throughout their first season collectively at Ferrari in 2025. However the image has modified dramatically this yr. Following his victory in Barcelona, Hamilton sits second within the championship, whereas Leclerc is fourth and trails his team-mate by 40 factors.
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