Lewis Hamilton Backed by Emerson Fittipaldi for 2026 F1 Championship Challenge With Ferrari
Two-time Formula 1 world champion Emerson Fittipaldi has backed Lewis Hamilton to mount a serious challenge for the 2026 drivers’ championship, praising the Ferrari driver’s resurgence during his second season with the team.
Hamilton joined Ferrari for the 2025 season after leaving Mercedes, beginning a new chapter with the Italian team. His first campaign at Maranello proved difficult as he adapted to Ferrari’s machinery and working environment, while teammate Charles Leclerc frequently provided a strong benchmark.
However, Hamilton has made a stronger start to his second season with Ferrari. According to the report, the seven-time world champion is currently second in the 2026 drivers’ championship after the opening half of the campaign.
Fittipaldi believes Hamilton’s performances have answered some of the doubts that surrounded the 41-year-old driver following his first season with Ferrari.
“I was so happy to see Lewis and Ferrari going fast,” Fittipaldi told Formula 1.
The Brazilian recalled the criticism Hamilton faced during his difficult first season at Ferrari, when some questioned whether age had begun to affect his competitiveness.
“I remember last year… it happened to me in IndyCar, and in F1, when you get older people start saying, ‘Well, he cannot drive’, and everybody last year criticised Lewis,” Fittipaldi said.
“‘He cannot beat Leclerc, he’s too old’. Now he’s going strong. For the sport it’s good, for the fans it’s good. Seeing Ferrari winning again, and Lewis winning again, is fantastic.”
Fittipaldi also pointed to the characteristics of Formula 1’s 2026 regulations as one factor that could highlight Hamilton’s driving ability. The new-generation cars introduced for the 2026 season are smaller and feature reduced downforce compared with the previous generation.
“One thing that nobody talks about a lot is the new car. It’s smaller, with less downforce, and to me it makes it harder to drive fast. It brings out more talent,” Fittipaldi explained.
He believes Hamilton’s car control and ability to communicate with the car have helped him adapt to the new machinery.
“That’s one of the reasons why Lewis improved, because of his car control, his feeling for the car – he’s an extremely talented driver,” Fittipaldi said.
The former world champion also highlighted Hamilton’s growing familiarity with Ferrari after spending another season working with the team’s engineers and personnel.
“He’s working in his second year with Ferrari, he knows the engineers, and he knows the system,” Fittipaldi added.
Fittipaldi Wants Hamilton in Championship Fight
With the second half of the 2026 season still to come, Fittipaldi hopes Hamilton can remain in contention for the drivers’ title and take the championship battle deep into the campaign.
“I really hope Lewis challenges for the championship,” Fittipaldi said.
“It’d be extremely good to see Lewis and Ferrari running stronger, to dice with Mercedes. I hope so.”
Fittipaldi also expressed his respect for Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur, whom he previously worked with through A1 Grand Prix.
“I have a lot of respect for Fred Vasseur,” Fittipaldi said.
“When I owned the A1 Team Brazil [in A1 Grand Prix], Fred [and his ART Grand Prix outfit] ran our team and did a great job. He’s a good guy, a top guy.”
Fittipaldi believes Vasseur’s experience and relationship with Ferrari could help the team as it attempts to maintain its competitiveness during the second half of the season.
“I think now he knows the Italians well! So, it should be good, the second part,” he added.
Hamilton’s championship prospects will ultimately depend on Ferrari’s competitiveness, his consistency and the performance of his rivals. Fittipaldi’s comments represent his assessment and hopes for the remainder of the season rather than confirmation that Hamilton will win the 2026 title.
The former Ferrari driver’s support nevertheless underlines the attention surrounding Hamilton’s second season at Maranello, with the seven-time champion now looking to turn his improved form into a sustained championship challenge.
Analysis: Can Lewis Hamilton Really Challenge for the 2026 F1 Championship?
Emerson Fittipaldi’s support for Lewis Hamilton’s 2026 Formula 1 championship ambitions highlights the significant improvement the seven-time world champion has made during his second season with Ferrari. Fittipaldi believes Hamilton has responded to criticism surrounding his age and first season at Maranello, but the bigger question is whether Ferrari and Hamilton can maintain enough consistency to sustain a championship challenge.
Hamilton’s first season with Ferrari was difficult as he adapted to a completely new environment after spending most of his career with Mercedes. The transition involved learning a different car, engineering group and team structure. His stronger performances in 2026 therefore represent more than a simple improvement in results; they indicate that Hamilton has become more comfortable within the Ferrari organisation.
Fittipaldi specifically praised Hamilton’s ability to adapt to the new-generation Formula 1 cars. The Brazilian believes the smaller cars and reduced downforce make them more difficult to drive quickly, placing greater emphasis on driver control and feel.
“One thing that nobody talks about a lot is the new car. It’s smaller, with less downforce, and to me it makes it harder to drive fast,” Fittipaldi told Formula 1.
He believes Hamilton’s ability to understand and control the car remains one of his greatest strengths. That assessment is important because the 2026 regulations have created a new competitive environment, meaning experience from previous generations does not automatically guarantee success.
Hamilton’s championship position also provides evidence that Ferrari’s improvement is meaningful. The British driver entered the Hungarian Grand Prix second in the drivers’ standings, showing that he had remained firmly involved in the title battle.
However, the championship fight is far from straightforward. Hamilton needs to convert Ferrari’s competitive pace into consistent podiums and victories. At the Hungarian Grand Prix, for example, he finished fifth after receiving a five-second penalty, while Lando Norris won for McLaren. The result demonstrated that even when Ferrari has strong pace, lost points can become costly in a championship fight.
Charles Leclerc is another important factor. Hamilton’s teammate has the ability to challenge for strong results, meaning Ferrari must manage two highly competitive drivers while also fighting Mercedes and McLaren.
Fittipaldi’s support should therefore be viewed as an endorsement of Hamilton’s potential rather than a prediction that he will win the title. Hamilton has the experience, Ferrari has demonstrated competitiveness, and the driver appears more settled during his second season.
The biggest requirement for the remainder of 2026 is consistency. Hamilton must avoid penalties, maximise qualifying opportunities and convert competitive weekends into major points.
Ultimately, Fittipaldi’s comments underline an important point: Hamilton should not be written off. His championship chances are real, but Ferrari must continue developing its car and Hamilton must deliver consistently if he is to turn that opportunity into an eighth world title.
Source: formula 1
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